…Afrikan Civil Society
Afrocentric CSO, Afrikan Civil Society, has said that peace efforts over the spiraling war between government forces and rebels in Ethiopia should be led by Africans.
In a statement in support of negotiation efforts by former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, the CSO said it was totally opposed to foreign mediation calling on “sons and daughters of Africa” to rise up to the challenge of ensuring that the war does not spiral into a full-blown civil war.
“President Obasanjo has been to Mekelle and will be visiting the Amhara Region soon. We all need to support him in every possible way. Such support includes prayers, resources, and ideas needed to help calm everything so that dialogue can replace the current threatening carnage consuming our Ethiopian brothers and sisters.”
Ethiopia is reportedly on the cusp of another civil war as a war between the forces of the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and rebel forces which began a year ago is fast spiraling into a civil war.
The UN warns that the risk of Ethiopia’s conflict spiraling out of control into a full-blown civil war is “only too real.”
According to the Afrikan Civil Society, the situation is dire and calls for Africans to stand up and support Obasanjo who is the envoy of the African Union to the country.
“The current situation in Ethiopia is currently beyond the crisis level. It demands the overwhelming support of the sons and daughters of Africa. A disagreement that Ethiopian citizens should resolve among themselves has exploded and got out of control.
“It would be unforgivable for other Africans to stand by and watch the situation deteriorate further. Accordingly, the Afrikan Civil Society has risen in support of the resolution efforts by the African Union-led President Obasanjo in his selfless and life-risking service to bring back peace to the region speedily.
“Concerned people worldwide about the destiny and future of Africa must raise their voices and support this Afrikan elderly statesman,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, in a last-ditch bid to bring warring parties to the negotiating table, U.S. Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman returned to Ethiopia this week.
According to reports, the U.S. State Department believes there’s still a window of opportunity, working with the African Union, to hammer out a ceasefire agreement between the forces of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and a coalition of rebel forces.
The war had started last year between government forces and the rebels and has reportedly now spiraled to the point where it could blow into a full-blown civil war.
Western media reports claim the rebels are now marching on Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa and that Abiy is losing grip on power.
However, Ethiopians have called the claim false with protestors in the capital calling America “shameful”.