Ethiopia and the TPLF Sign the Pretoria Agreement

War had begun in northern Ethiopia in November 2020. Humanitarian access and the restoration of services were immediate concerns at the Pretoria talks, alongside a military ceasefire. [1] [2]

On 2 November 2022, representatives of Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front signed an agreement to cease hostilities in Pretoria, South Africa. The African Union had convened the talks the previous week. [3] [4]

Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo led a panel that also included Uhuru Kenyatta and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. The United States, United Nations, and regional organization IGAD participated as observers and supporters of the process led by the African Union. [4]

An African Union monitoring mission began operating in Mekelle in December 2022. On the first anniversary, the AU reported progress in restoring services and establishing institutions while acknowledging pending implementation issues. The agreement’s signing was followed by negotiations over implementation that remained unfinished a year later. [3]

The agreement required an open channel between senior commanders within twenty-four hours and provided for further talks on disarmament. It also established a joint committee chaired by the African Union and a team of African experts to monitor compliance and report violations. [1]

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