Army commanders of the National Defense Force of Ethiopia (ENDF), and Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) have signed an agreement related to the disarmament of TPLF fighters.
The agreement inked last night in Nairobi, Kenya, is signed between Genral Tadese Werede of TPLF and Field marshal Berhanu Jula of ENDF. It is a follow-up of the African Union (AU) led peace deal the two sides have signed a few weeks ago in Pretoria, South Africa. The deal includes the formation of a committee of the two sides with an observer from the AU the commencement of disarming TPLF.
It is stated that as of Tuesday (November 15, 2022) for seven days orientation by the commanders for their respective forces will take place for seven days. “After the orientation disarmament will take place over a period of four days in four disengagement zones,” the agreement stated. “Disarmament of heavy weapons will be done concurrently with the withdrawal of foreign and non-ENDF forces from the region.”
“A joint committee shall be established on the date of signing of this Declaration by the two commanders to work out a detail implementation plan for the disarmament of light weapons and report within fourteen days with a clear plan for the process and timelines for the disarmament of light weapons. The committee shall comprise two representatives from the parties and one representative from AU Monitoring and Verification Team,” it says.
The agreement also allows protection of civilians and aid workers as well as facilitation of aid to the people in need.
The long awaited Agreement on the Implementation of the Pretoria Peace Accord has been signed between the Commander of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, Field Marshall Berhanu Jula and the commander of TPLF, Lieutenant General Tadesse Worede pic.twitter.com/Nef539u7wt
— Ambassador General Bacha Debele Buta (@ButaDubi) November 12, 2022
The war between the two sides which was started on November 4, 2020 by TPLF attack on northern military base of ENDF in Tigray region, has reportedly claimed lives of over half a million people from both sides while displacing millions of Ethiopians especially living in the northern part of the country.