{"id":1696,"date":"2023-07-10T10:30:53","date_gmt":"2023-07-10T10:30:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/africansforthehorn.org\/?p=1696"},"modified":"2023-10-13T08:13:20","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T08:13:20","slug":"first-of-its-kind-civil-society-monitor-finds-disturbing-gaps-in-tigray-peace-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/africansforthehorn.org\/first-of-its-kind-civil-society-monitor-finds-disturbing-gaps-in-tigray-peace-deal\/","title":{"rendered":"First-of-its-Kind Civil Society Monitor Finds Disturbing Gaps in Tigray Peace Deal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u2018Ethiopia Watch\u2019 Report Urges the African Union to Build on the Historic Agreement Reached in Pretoria Eight Months Ago<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10 JULY 2023<\/strong>\u2014A newly released monitoring mechanism has revealed disturbing evidence that the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) reached eight months ago between the Ethiopian Federal Government and Tigray People\u2019s Liberation Front (TPLF) is marred by significant gaps impacting the protection of civilians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The monitoring mechanism, which is the creation of a coalition of regional and international civil society organisations, has published its findings in a report entitled Ethiopia Watch: Civil Society Monitor of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. <\/em>The report collects and analyses data from both private and public sources, creating a comprehensive, and independent, assessment of the African Union-brokered peace deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mechanism\u2019s report describes the CoHA as a momentous achievement that has improved the situation in Ethiopia. But the report finds, and meticulously details, critical gaps that derive from both the limited scope of the agreement and failures in its implementation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 26-page report is being released in the lead-up to the African Union summit, which will convene in Nairobi from 13 to 16 July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

”The report reveals that it is dangerous to claim that Ethiopia is now at peace,” <\/em>said Dismas Nkunda<\/strong>, Executive Director of Atrocities Watch Africa, which is a member of the civil society coalition that established the mechanism. ”While there is much to celebrate about the AU-led peace process, more work remains to be done. The deal must be fully implemented and resourced. It should be extended to include other key conflict actors throughout Ethiopia. And it must be expanded to include the full participation of young people, women and girls.” <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sources utilised for the report\u2014many of whom shared their insights on the condition of anonymity\u2014challenged the predominant narrative that the conflict in Tigray is resolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it is true that the worst days of the war have passed, the report\u2019s sources point to the significant gaps outlined in the report as evidence that the peace is tentative, uncertain and fragile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n