BY ASHENAFI ANIMUTADDIS ABABA– The Cessation of Hostility Agreement (CoHA) by the federal government and TPLF would bring about lasting peace for citizens and pen great hope as it has ushered in a new dawn of the nation, so stated scholars.
Publishing commentaries on the CoHA, Prof. Ann M. Fitz-Gerald and Hugh Segal (PhD) stated that the beginning of this new era has to earn the ongoing support of the people, parties, and international actors and reinforced by other important reform initiatives to address clear sources of insecurity in Ethiopia.
They also said: ‘‘The settlement agreed by the parties to Ethiopia’s conflict offers hope for a lasting peace, but further steps are still needed to deter future violence and instability. Failing on these measures of support opens a risk that the recently brokered peace agreement will simply be an instance of kicking the can down the road.’’
As to the authors, the government has to now push various reforms forward in earnest to build a plural democratic governance model in Tigray so as to lead a stable foundation in place for peace to move forward and rebuild the conflict-affected areas of Tigray, Amhara and Afar.
“It is also important to well discuss the contested areas elsewhere in the country, and other ill-defined or ambiguous land issues to properly run security and economic reforms. The momentum behind capital market reforms including the proposed launch of the Ethiopia stock exchange, which could accelerate economic growth and opportunities in a more publicly accountable private sector, have to be focused on,’’ they underlined.
They also recommended that the commitment and resources required to support the monumental reform exercise envisioned in the text of the peace agreement should not be underestimated; nor should the requirement to end a largely disinformation-based war.
“The sustained support such as robust and accountable AU monitoring and verification capability and access for independent reporting and commitment of the Ethiopian people, the political parties, Ethiopian Diaspora groups and international actors is required and priority should be given,” they remarked.
The Ethiopian Herald January 11/2023
