The Tigray rebel forces have agreed to disarm following the conclusion of a ceasefire agreement in the South African capital of Pretoria.

 The 12-point peace agreement between the federal government and the Tigray leaders signed at the end of the negotiations notably included a programme of “disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration for TPLF combatants, taking into account the security situation on the ground”.

According to a joint statement, the two parties “reaffirmed our commitment to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ethiopia and to upholding the constitution” of the country, saying “Ethiopia has only one national defense force”.

After two years of deadly conflict, the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)  agreed to “permanently silence the guns.”

The agreement, publicly signed by the heads of the two delegations, also provides “transitional measures that include the restoration of Constitutional order in the Tigray region, a framework for the settlement of political differences and a Transitional Justice Policy framework to ensure accountability, truth, reconciliation, and healing.”

The head of the government team, Abiy’s national security adviser Redwan Hussein and Tigrayan delegation head Getachew Reda signed the agreement.

“We’ve agreed that the government of Ethiopia will further enhance its collaboration with humanitarian agencies to continue expediting aid towards those in need of assistance,” the joint statement said.