Tigrayan rebels announced that they are ready to participate in a peace process under the auspices of the African Union and have deployed a negotiating team.

According to a statement issued by the authorities of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) on the occasion of the Ethiopian New Year, it is their wish that “Ethiopians in general and the people of Tigray in particular no longer hear the sound of gunfire and the blockade of essential services and humanitarian aid.”

“The government of Tigray is prepared to participate in a robust peace process under the auspices of the African Union,” said the statement.

“Furthermore, we are ready to abide by an immediate and mutually agreed cessation of hostilities in order to create a conducive atmosphere.”

There has been no direct reaction from the Ethiopian government but it has previously said it was ready for unconditional talks “anytime, anywhere,” brokered by the AU.

Despite the diplomatic efforts to try to end the almost two years conflict,  there had been no breakthrough so far.

The Ethiopian government has previously said that the African Union (AU) should facilitate peace talks. However, the TPLF had until now opposed the role of Olusegun Obasanjo, who is the AU’s special representative for the Horn of Africa, instead favouring outgoing Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

TPLF’s statement said a negotiating team including the Tigray External Affairs Office and TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda and General Tsadkan Gebretensae, a former chief of the federal army and now in the rebel forces’ central military command, was “ready to be deployed without delay”.