U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa (SEHOA) Ambassador Mike Hammer will travel to Ethiopia to de escalate political tension in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The special envoy will visit Belgium, Kenya, and Ethiopia from September 3 to 13, 2024.
“In Addis Ababa, SEHOA Hammer intends to follow-up with African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development officials on recent Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan (ALPS) Group’s efforts in Switzerland. He will also review implementation of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement on northern Ethiopia with signatories. The United States remains committed to supporting the Ethiopian government and the Tigray Interim Regional Administration to achieve lasting peace, including through effective disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration for ex-combatants; an orderly and peaceful return of internally displaced persons; and advancing transitional justice and accountability. Lastly, Special Envoy Hammer will discuss with Ethiopian officials their efforts to advance dialogue to end violence in the Amhara and Oromia regions,” the US State Department said in a statement.
Prior to Mike Hammer’s visit, US ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin Massinga visited Tigray where Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Tigray’s largest and ruling political party, has split in two. Ervin met with both Getachew Reda and Debretsion Gebremichael who are leading opposing TPLF factions.
US-mediated Pretoria deal which ended two year long war in Ethiopia is being questioned and criticized due to political tensions in Tigray. While two TPLF factions have taken extreme positions, it would be interesting to see what Mike Hammer will be able to do.
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