Statement on Peace Talks

27 October 2022

We, Ethiopians and Europeans of Ethiopian origin residing in several European countries, organized as Defend Ethiopia Task Force in Europe are releasing this statement to express our grave concern about the pressure being exerted by external actors on Ethiopia in the on-going Peace Talks, in South Africa.

As Ethiopians living abroad, we have shared the national trauma of a destructive war and the tumultuous two years that followed the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF)’s unprovoked and treasonous attack on the Ethiopian National Defence Forces, Northern Command starting a war in November 2020. This war brought about devastating humanitarian, economic and social consequences on Ethiopians living in Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions which will take years to mend. It has also a chain of effects that still reverberates and threatens the rest of Ethiopia and indeed the Horn of Africa with instability.

The incalculable humanitarian scar left by this conflict, not to mention the loss of human life and material destruction, are the inevitable results of this unprovoked war started by TPLF which will need as much, if not more resources, time, political will, social adjustment and political effort to mitigate its long term societal effects. It is with this extremely challenging background that the Ethiopian Government is now engaged in a Peace Talk with TPLF, which it has been advocating for since the beginning of the conflict,  

We unequivocally support the Ethiopian Government and facilitators of the on-going Peace Talks, such as the African Union, in their effort to hopefully bring the peace, stability and security Ethiopians and indeed the horn of Africa craves.

Whilst we support this peace talks and keenly are aware that peace has no alternative for our long suffering country and people; as Ethiopians, we cannot stress enough that:

• We recognize the sacrifice paid, in life and blood, to avert the existential threat that imperiled the integrity of Ethiopia by TPLF with help from its powerful external supporters and our historical enemies. Hence the relative security and victory gained through this honourable sacrifice must not be, in any way, compromised at the Peace Talks by external pressure to serve a hidden agenda.
• The Ethiopian Government has a historic, moral, legal and constitutional responsibility to ensure that the on-going Peace Talks are not used to put Ethiopia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security in any jeopardy now or in the future.
• We are confident that the Ethiopian Government will reject any stipulation, interference or pressure at the Peace Talks by third parties which jeopardises the sovereignty, integrity and future of Ethiopia.
• We underline the Ethiopian Government and its institutions, such us the Ethiopian National Defence Forces, are the only legal and constitutional executive powers in the land which is clearly and incontestably promulgated in the Constitution of Ethiopia.

Finally, we are optimistic that Ethiopia and her multitudes will soon get the peace and security they deserve.  We, as Ethiopians and citizens of European countries are available to help in any way possible to facilitate such efforts. We also vehemently protest any external interference or pressure to influence the outcome of the talks.

Defend Ethiopia Task Force in Europe (DETF-EU) organized in Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom