In the ensuing period, both parties called for mediation to end the war, as the humanitarian situation in northern Ethiopia deteriorated. Negotiations between the governments of Ethiopia and Tigray will determine the future of both the region and the country. On the other side are the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) representing the popular resistance of the fewer than eight million people of Tigray. Unlike a mere truce, a ceasefire requires an overall agreement on the political agenda for the items of peace negotiations. Ethiopia needs to recognise the TDF as the sole provider of security for Tigray and respect the will of the region’s people, including their right to hold a referendum within an agreed-upon time frame.

Source: Ethiopian News September 22, 2022 08:34 UTC