Ethiopia Is Committed To Consolidating Lasting Peace

 By Staff Writer

Following the Pretoria Peace Agreement, Ethiopia has made relentless efforts to restore basic services and administrative units in the Northern part of the country. Public services were restored and key infrastructure repaired, with resumption of economic recovery in banking, trade, agriculture and other services.

The peace agreement has produced tangible results. Inhabitants of major cities in Tigray are now breathing air of peace after the agreement. Accordingly, the people have expressed their happiness, relief and hope for lasting peace.

The peace deal creates new opportunities for national rebuilding and reconciliation.

Despite such developments, recently, the UN Undersecretary General and Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide released an irresponsible and reckless statement on the situation in Ethiopia. The special advisor heavily relied on the report of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) to make an inflammatory statement against Ethiopia.

The dividend of the peace agreement to Ethiopia has been enormous. Suffice to say, Ethiopia's diplomacy has come out of international pressure, with growing foreign direct investment (FDI).

The peace Agreement Stimulates Economic Growth

The Pretoria Agreement has helped the country to focus its on economic development. In her recent speech President Sahle-Work Zewde delivered at the joint session of the House of Peoples’ Representatives and the House of Federation, Ethiopia registered 7.5 percent economic growth over the last concluded fiscal year of 2015. This economic boom is registered despite the various challenges facing the country.

The economic growth is largely a result of peace returning to the country. As a result, agriculture, services, manufacturing, foreign investment, finance, among others, registered growth and expansion.

The economic boom has also enabled the opening of 160 closed factories through the 'Let Ethiopia Produce' initiative. The country also commenced exporting wheat for the first time in history.

As a results of steps taken by the government, the agriculture sector cultivated more than 22 million hectares of land and crucial monetary and fiscal measures taken to alleviate the challenges of the cost of living.

Overall, the country is experiencing strong economic growth despite challenges facing us. One can say that the economic development is the direct result of the peace dividend.

The success of the agreement has also helped the country to boost its diplomatic engagement as several high level delegations from around the word visited Ethiopia and met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other senior government officials. The peace agreement enabled Ethiopia to elevate its diplomatic ties with many countries to a higher level.

Steps Taken for Lasting Peace in Ethiopia

With a view to consolidating the peace process, the government has taken a lot of steps including establishment of the National Dialogue Commission and Transitional Justice mechanisms.

Establishment of National Dialogue Commission

The Ethiopian government established the National Dialogue Commission in 2021 to facilitate a national dialogue process aimed at promoting peace and reconciliation in the country.The commission has a broad mandate to facilitate a dialogue process that will address the root causes of conflict in Ethiopia and develop recommendations for building a more peaceful and inclusive society. It has engaged extensively with a wide range of stakeholders, including the government, political parties, civil society groups, and religious leaders and representative of the society in different parts of the country.

The establishment of the consultation was a significant step forward in Ethiopia's efforts to promote peace and reconciliation. The dialogue process is essential for Ethiopia to address the root causes of recurrent conflict and build a more peaceful and inclusive state formation.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice has helped many African and Latin American countries address rights violations, ensure accountability, and strengthen institutions for stability and democracy. It is an important conflict resolution tool for divided, post-conflict societies like Ethiopia with a history of political violence.

Ethiopia now seeks transitional justice for sustainable peace, reconciliation and justice. It is finalizing a transitional justice policy document through extensive consultations.

Transitional justice is seen as the best way for Ethiopia to confront its unsettled past and break the cycle of violence. The policy aims to heal past wrongs and help overcome inherited challenges.

The goal is to build consensus on the root causes and usher in a new positive political culture. With implementation of the policy, there is hope that Ethiopia's history of cyclic violence will end, cementing state building endeavors peacefully which all Ethiopians aspire.

The Ethiopian Government has been reiterating commitment to consolidate peace in the country. This is not without internal and external challenges. The government is making relentless efforts to address extreme views among political elites and reach consensus on major issues of the country and consolidate lasting peace by implementing several initiatives. The peace process in Ethiopia needs to be supported, not tarnished!