By Staff Reporter
November 1, 2020 (Ezega.com) -- European Union reportedly began the mediation process between Ethiopia’s Tigray region and the federal government in an attempt to pull them from the brink of war over deepening political disputes.
The mediation comes after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s appointed military general was blocked to assume position as deputy head of the northern army command in Tigray state but deported from Alula Aba Nega airport.
The EU mediation team led by Vice President of European Union Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell held separate talks this week with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Tigray region President Deberetsion Gebremichael and high level officials of the two sides.
Executive member of the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) Getachew Reda confirmed toThe Reporter that he participated in the discussion during which the EU’s team was briefed about root causes of disputes between the two parties.
Speaking about the decision to deny the appointments of army generals in Tigray region, Getachew said the measure taken has nothing to do with the ethnic background of the appointees but the legitimacy of the political group which assigned them.
“Any instruction coming from Addis Ababa is not acceptable in Tigray region,” he said adding the EU team has affirmed that it would pursue the negotiation.
According to the TPLF leader, the reform in the army aimes not only to change leaders of the army but also to shift the north military command to a west military command.
“The North Military Command must be stationed at same place if the sovereignty of the nation needs to be defended,” he said
Meanwhile, civilians were killed in Sebeta, Shashemene and Awedai towns in Oromia region by unidentified gunmen and government security forces.
Instructor of the Meda Welabu University Fikadu Tolera was shot dead by security forces in Awedai town, in eastern Ethiopia. The Oromia Police Commission Head Jibril Mohammed said the killing in Awedai was committed by mistake.
Petros Tesfaye, a priest in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church was found dead in Sebeta town. According to the head, Jibril, he was killed by unidentified gunmen.
Jibril said government security forces killed a member of the rebel Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) ‘Shene’ in Shashemene town.
According to Oromia police, the OLF leader was killed in Shashemene by Oromo security forces.
The OLF leader had led various terrorist attacks including the killing of mayor of Burayu town, 25 kilometers west of Addis Ababa.
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