President Uhuru Kenyatta has appealed to all the parties involved in the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia to cease hostilities.
In a statement on Wednesday, the President said that Kenya concurs with the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres in calling for a ceasefire and pave way for negotiation.
“The ongoing conflict continues to rob and deprive the people of Ethiopia, the dignity and honour inherently interwoven in the culture and civilisation of this great nation,” Uhuru said.
He added that a promise of a peaceful, secure, and stable Ethiopia will only be realised by the ability of all parties in Ethiopia to surmount challenges in ways that are both sustainable and acceptable to all the people of Ethiopia.
“Indeed, an all-inclusive national dialogue, conducted in the spirit of compromise and accommodation, will go a long way in easing the burden of conflict to all the affected communities throughout Ethiopia.”
The ongoing conflict started in November 2020, as the government ordered a military offensive against Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
Since then, thousands of Ethiopians have been displaced from their homes and hundreds have lost their lives.
A humanitarian crisis has also increased as hunger exacerbates the situation in the areas affected.
On Tuesday, Guterres said the people of Ethiopia continue to suffer greatly from ongoing conflict and bloodshed.
“I make the strongest possible appeal for an immediate cessation of hostilities, following the spirit of the Olympic Truce - to save lives, overcome differences and find the path to real peace,” Guterres said.
Last month, Kenya and the United States of America called for a speedy resolution of the Ethiopian conflict.
The two states have agreed to continue engaging the conflicting parties in Ethiopia with the aim of seeing a speedy resolution to the conflict in the Horn of Africa country.
At a meeting at State House, Nairobi, President Uhuru, and the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Ambassador David Satterfield emphasized that peace in Ethiopia is crucial for the region’s stability.
