Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) announced that the Federal Government is not implementing its duty sufficiently according to the Pretoria peace deal.
Speaking in the Tigrai State Council meeting, Debretsion Gebremichael (PhD.), Chairman of the TPLF, regarding the peace accord, said, “while the people and government of Tigray are working hard for the successful implementation of the peace deal, the Ethiopian federal government failed to discharge its obligation of driving the Eritrean and Amhara forces out of Tigray”.
“The reconnection of the Tigray Regional State's electric power to the national grid enables some areas to get electricity; network services have also resumed in areas controlled by the national defense forces; out of these, other basic and more important services, including banks, have not yet started in the region," Debretsion added.
He also noted that the Ethiopian defense forces have not yet disengaged from the battle fronts since the signing of the peace agreement.
At the beginning of this month, TPLF announced that its combatants have started withdrawing from their positions on different war fronts in a manner that avoids conflict.
"So as not to be a reason for the Eritrean and Amhara forces to stay in Tigray and to ensure our readiness for the implementation of the peace accord, our troops have laid down their heavy weapons and artillery and put them in one area that can be verified by the responsible body," said Debretsion.
As per Article 2(d) of the executive declaration of the Nairobi peace deal, the disarmament of heavy weapons by TPLF forces is to be done concurrently with the withdrawal of the foreign and non-Ethiopian Defense Force (ENDF) from the region.
It has been repeatedly reported that the Eritrean troops are committing atrocities in Tigray after the peace deal.
Confirming the commission of heinous crimes by the Eritrean and Amhara forces, Debretsion urged the Ethiopian government to perform its duty of withdrawing these forces according to its promises in the peace deal.
On the other hand, the Federal Government revealed on December 17, 2022, that organized crime is being committed in areas where the Ethiopian Defense Force has yet to reach, including Mekelle, the capital of Tigray regional state.
The TPLF chairman further mentioned that the African Union Monitoring Team has not yet arrived in Tigray, adding that their arrival is still much anticipated for the smooth implementation of the peace agreement.
According to Article 11(1) of the Pretoria agreement, the warring parties have agreed to form a joint committee composed of representatives from each party, IGAD, and chaired by an African Union high-level panel.
After a discussion on a draft decree to establish delegations for peace talks and define their duty and responsibilities, the Tigray State Council is reported to approve the appointment of the members of the group proposed by the TPLF chairman.
The group comprises Getachew Reda, general Tsadikan Gebretinsaie, Fisha Haftetsion(Ph.D.), Ambassador Wendimu Asamnew, Lt.Gen. Tadese Werede, Yalem Tsegay, Beyene Mkiru, and Associate Professor Meresa Tsihaye. The group totally subsumes 11 members, of which two are from the diaspora and one is from opposition parties.
