Mereja Forum

[sarcasm]

The Elders call on African leaders to push for an urgent ceasefire, mediation and humanitarian access in Ethiopia

30 November 2021

(The Elders are an independent group of global leaders working together for peace, justice and human rights.)

The Elders today urged African leaders to intervene to stop the conflict in Ethiopia escalating into a regional crisis and an even worse humanitarian disaster.

The Elders reiterated their calls on the African Union and the UN Security Council to take urgent steps to address the humanitarian and human rights crises in Ethiopia, which threaten peace and security in the Horn of Africa as well as the lives of Ethiopians. It is now clear that African mediation at the highest level is needed to stop the fighting.

During their board visit to Addis Ababa in 2019 (when they met Prime Minister Abiy as well as AU representatives), the Elders supported the idea of African solutions to African problems. The Elders have publicly and privately backed AU Envoy Olusegun Obasanjo in his efforts to find the compromise needed by all parties to end the conflict. They believe he needs more active support from African leaders to achieve this.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia, Nobel Peace Laureate and member of The Elders, said:

“AU Envoy Obasanjo is right to expect African leaders to bring pressure to bear on all sides to achieve a ceasefire. The region and the continent cannot afford a full-blown conflict in Africa’s second biggest country, and the home of the African Union. Ethiopia’s stability is vital for the whole of Africa. It is time for mediation, and it is time for African leaders to help that happen.”

Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia, Nobel Peace Laureate and member of The Elders, said:

“I was inspired by the vision of “Medemer” which my fellow Nobel Peace Laureate set out in his Nobel acceptance speech in 2019: that different views can be brought together and a compromise found, to build a just, egalitarian, democratic, and humane society. The PM’s vision can only be realised if he applies his philosophy to the current conflict. African leaders must urge him to seek a compromise that will enable peace and prosperity across Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. It is equally vital that the TPLF leadership is willing to compromise. But the solution has to be found within Ethiopia, not imposed internationally.”

Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General and Deputy Chair of The Elders, said:

“A year after this destructive conflict began, it is now escalating at an alarming rate, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation. With 9.4 million Ethiopians in need of food assistance as a result of the conflict, 400,000 facing famine-like conditions, and widespread human rights abuses bordering on crimes against humanity, an immediate ceasefire is urgently needed. A ceasefire is the first step towards inclusive mediation, and allowing life-saving humanitarian access. This is needed not just by the Ethiopians suffering from the fighting, but to save the region from the consequences of conflict spilling over Ethiopia’s borders.”

The Elders met Prime Minister Abiy in June 2019 on the occasion of their board meeting in Addis Ababa. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had discussions with him in Addis Ababa in November 2020, as did Juan Manuel Santos in November 2021.

ENDS

For media inquiries, please contact Luke Upchurch, Director of Communications at The Elders (+44 774 174 2064) or email: [email protected]

FEATURED ELDERS

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Former President of Liberia and Africa’s first elected female head of state; Nobel Peace Laureate; a leading promoter of peace, justice and democratic rule; a voice for freedom; and advocate for health for all.

Juan Manuel Santos
Former President of Colombia; a Nobel Peace Laureate who led complex peace negotiations, ending over 50 years of intractable civil war.

Ban Ki-moon
Former UN Secretary-General and former South Korean Foreign Minister; championed the world’s vulnerable by putting Sustainable Development, climate change, and gender equality at the top of the UN agenda.


https://theelders.org/news/elders-call- ... s-ethiopia

[Assegid S.]

When are you going to free yourself from the colonial's time mental slavery? Our own parents and grand parents who begged, even threw themselves to your leaders' feet were not old enough to be heard or called ELDERS? Why do we need to listen for these weeds now? ለኣፍሪካ ችግር ኣፍሪካዊ መፍትሔ እንደተባለው፤ ለኢትዮዽያውያኖች ፀብ ኢትዮዽያውን ሽምግልና ብለን ሽማግሌዎቻችንን ልከን ነበር። Unfortunately, you abused our ELDERS. Now it is time to reap what you sow.

[Sam Ebalalehu]

[deleted] the elders. Until TPLF is dead there cannot be any earthly power that should intervene. Ethiopians will decide about Ethiopia.