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((PLAYBOOK SLUG: ETHIOPIA PEACE TALKS
HEADLINE: What Are the Obstacles to Peace Talks in Ethiopia?
TEASER: TPLF calls for a return of basic services, as analysts say multiple factors stand in the way
BYLINE: Henry Wilkins at 3:20pm
DATELINE: ABALA, ETHIOPIA
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Wilkins
VIDEO EDITOR:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, MAS, djones approved for balance
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, ZOOM
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO__
TRT: 3:30
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) Ethiopia's government and the rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front, or TPLF, are preparing for peace talks to end the conflict that broke out in November of 2020. In the town of Abala, badly damaged by the conflict, militiamen and locals say they are ready for peace, but analysts say it won't come easy. Henry Wilkins reports from Abala, Ethiopia.
((NARRATOR))
Abala is largely a ghost town following intense fighting in late December. Residents say Tigrayan forces fired at civilians from this ridge, overlooking the town. Most residents fled, but since forces aligned with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front left in April, a handful have returned.
Faras Leali, a local militia leader who fought against the TPLF, says the devastation caused by the war is far-reaching.
((Faras Leali, Abala Militia Leader (in Afar, xx secs)))
“People are not afraid of war, but of famine. There is nothing to eat and there are no markets or shops. There is great fear at the present time of starvation, and many families returned to the town in confusion, not knowing what to do because of the lack of basic services in the city.”
((NARRATOR))
The residents say they are afraid of unexploded bombs too. Two boys showed VOA these munitions they found left in their home.
Many people VOA spoke to in Abala and other surrounding towns said they did not care about the politics between the Ethiopian government and Tigray, they just want a return to normal life.
Both sides have indicated they are ready to negotiate an end to Ethiopia’s 21-month internal war. In June, the Ethiopian government said it had set up a committee for negotiations. Tigray has said it is doing the same.
A TPLF spokesperson told VOA, however, he is no longer optimistic that talks will take place anytime soon.
((Fesseha Asghedom Tessema, TPLF Spokesperson (in English, 29 secs)))
“I cannot say that [I am optimistic] today because at that time, we were told by interlocutors, like the United States, the African Union, all of them, that basic services were going to start any minute, any minute now. We were counting not days, but hours, that there will be some move. Now, it looks like the Addis Ababa government has decided against it.”
((NARRATOR))
The government has cut telecoms, banking services, fuel supplies and prevented humanitarian aid from reaching Tigray. Analysts agree, peace talks are unlikely to go ahead if these basic services are not restored to the region.
But even if that happens, there are still obstacles to overcome, say analysts. One is the size of Tigray’s army and its ability to wage war against the government.
((William Davison, International Crisis Group (in English, 25 secs)))
“It’s not clear that Tigray’s leadership or its people would be willing to accept the downsizing, let alone the abolition of that force, but equally, it’s not at all clear the federal government would accept Tigray to become a fully functioning part of the federation and its political system, whilst it was still in possession of such a large and capable fighting force.”
((NARRATOR))
The TPLF has indicated it could try to secede from Ethiopia and form an independent state.
((Kiram Tadesse, Analyst (in English, 20 secs))
“I think it’s not a realistic option. We can simply take Eritrea. In practice, Eritrea left Ethiopia some three decades ago and what it has been through is not, as such, peaceful.”
((NARRATOR))
Analysts also say which side takes control of the disputed region of West Tigray will play a major role in negotiations.
The Ethiopian government did not respond to a request for an interview.
((Henry Wilkins, for VOA News, Abala, Ethiopia))
NewsML Media TopicsConflict, War and Peace
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateAugust 2, 2022 15:21 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
