Ethiopia Insight published on 17 December 2024 a commentary titled "Will the New Trump Administration Act on Tigray?" by Mulugeta Gebregziabher, Medical University of South Carolina.
The author speculates on the policy the Trump administration will pursue vis-a-vis Ethiopia, concluding it will not vary much from Trump's first administration but may have an even greater focus on countering Russia and China in Ethiopia and Africa generally.
Bisrat Kebede of the Tigrai Press interviewed me for 38 minutes on 7 June 2023 on issues concerning the Horn of Africa.
The discussion dealt with developments in Sudan, Ethiopia's Tigray Region, the visits to China and Russia by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, the ability of China to mediate disputes in the region, and US reaction to all of the above.
The US State Department held on 15 November 2022 a briefing on the peace process in Ethiopia.
Among the points made in this wide ranging briefing is that there was a clear understanding Eritrean Defense Forces and non-ENDF forces are to withdraw from Tigray Region. There was a commitment to human rights accountability. Unhindered and sustained humanitarian access must continue in Tigray, Amhara, and Afar Regions. The US will do everything possible to support both sides of the conflict to implement the African Union-led peace process.
World Politics Review published on 1 November 2022 a commentary titled "Ethiopia and the TPLF Are Now Talking Peace As They Fight On" by Chris Olaoluwa Ogunmodede.
The author concludes that the current peace talks in South Africa are unlikely to bring an immediate halt to a multilayered conflict with deep sociopolitical roots. But for better or worse, the talks represent the best hope for Ethiopians on both sides of the conflict.
South Africa's News 24 published on 29 October 2022 an article titled "Tigray Conflict Talks: Ethiopia Threatens to Cut Ties with Countries Pushing 'Sinister Political Agenda'" by Lenin Ndebele.
Ethiopia has threatened to cut diplomatic ties with countries that it believes are making politically motivated accusations about the civil war in Ethiopia.
The Associated Press published on 25 October 2022 an article titled "Ethiopia Peace Talks Have Begun on Tigray, South Africa Says" by Mogomotsi Magome.
Following new losses on the battlefield in the face of Ethiopian central government and Eritrean armies, Tigray leaders have joined those from Addis Ababa at African-Union led peace talks in South Africa.
Reuters published on 24 October 2022 an article titled "First Peace Talks in Ethiopia's Tigray Conflict to Start in South Africa."
Delegations from the Ethiopian central government and Tigray Region are meeting in South Africa to resume peace talks under the auspices of the African Union. A US military aircraft transported the head of the Tigrayan delegation, Tsadkan Gebre Tensae, accompanied by US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Mike Hammer, to South Africa.
The Wall Street Journal published on 13 October 2022 an article titled "Fighting Erupts Again in Ethiopia, As U.S. Tries to Restart Peace Talks" by Nicholas Bariyo and Michael M. Phillips.
The article describes the reentry of Eritrean troops into Tigray Region and efforts by the United States to get peace talks back on track.
The Council on Foreign Relations blog posted on 11 October 2022 a commentary titled "Peace Talks for Tigray Delayed" by Michelle Gavin.
There appears to be little if any willingness to engage in serious peace talks at the present time.
The New York Times published on 8 October 2022 an article titled "After Secret U.S. Talks Fail, a Hidden War in Africa Rapidly Escalates" by Declan Walsh.
Fighting has surged in Ethiopia's Tigray Region as secret efforts to achieve peace led by the United States have given way to raging combat. Eritrean forces have pounded Tigray with artillery barrages and several thousand Ethiopian troops have been flown to Eritrea to help with the assault along Tigray's northern border. Tigray Defense Forces have been able to resupply with flights from neighboring Sudan.
CBS News published on 30 September 2022 a report titled "Ethiopia Civil War Raging again in Tigray Region, Satellite Images Appear to Confirm" by Sarah Carter.
Satellite images dated 26 September show Ethiopian federal forces massed in the northwest Tigray town of Shiraro, 10 miles from the Eritrean border.
The New Humanitarian, an independent non-profit news organization, published on 28 September 2022 an analysis titled "Is There a Path to Peace in the Tigray Conflict?'
The article questions whether either party is genuinely committed to peace. There is no confidence on either side that the other can be trusted.
The Associated Press published on 20 September 2022 an article titled "Eritrea Accused of Starting Offensive in Ethiopia's Tigray" by Rodney Muhumuza.
The Tigray People's Liberation Front charged that Eritrea is deploying its entire army against neighboring Tigray Region. The United States Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Mike Hammer, said Washington has been tracking Eritrean troop movements across the border and condemns this development.
The Council on Foreign Relations posted on 12 September 2022 a commentary titled "A Wounded Ethiopia" by Michelle Gavin.
The author concluded that Ethiopia faces mounting political and economic challenges, which make it a ripe target for opportunists.
The Kuwait News Agency published on 12 September 2022 a statement titled "US Welcomes Readiness of Tigray Authority to Engage in Peace Talks."
The White House press secretary welcomed the central government and Tigray People's Liberation Front's willingness to negotiate. She also urged Eritrea and others to stop fueling the conflict.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement on 11 September 2022 "On the Occasion of the Ethiopian New Year" praising steps toward peace and confirming US support for Ethiopia's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
Aljazeera published on 11 September 2022 an article titled "Ethiopia's Tigray Rebels Say Ready for AU-led Peace Talks."
Ethiopia's Tigray People's Liberation Front announced on 11 September that it is prepared to participate in peace talks with the central government led by the African Union. It is also ready to accept an immediate cease fire and made no mention of the four preconditions that it cited several days ago.
Agence France Presse published on 9 September 2022 an article titled "Ethiopia Rebels Call for Conditional Truce."
Head of the Tigray People's Liberation Front, Debretsion Gebremichael, sent a letter to the UN Secretary General on 7 September calling for a conditional cease fire that includes "unfettered humanitarian access" to Tigray, restoration of essential services, the withdrawal of Eritrean forces from Ethiopia, and withdrawal of troops from western Tigray. There has not yet been a public response from the central government.
Agence France Presse published on 6 September 2022 an article titled "US Envoy in Ethiopia to Seek Halt to Fighting" by Aymeric Vincenot.
US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Mike Hammer, was in Ethiopia on 6 September seeking to reinstate a cease fire between the central government and Tigrayan rebels.
Agence France Presse published on 31 July 2022 an article titled "US Envoy Urges Progress on Ethiopia Peace Talks, Aid."
US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa recently visited Ethiopia where he urged the central government and Tigrayans to move forward with the peace process. He also discussed the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen.
The Voice of America published on 28 July 2022 an article titled "Lavrov Lashes Out at West on Africa Tour" by Fred Harter.
As Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov tried to shift blame for Africa's grain shortages to Western sanctions because of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, the US announced a $488 million drought relief package for Ethiopia.
