November 13th 2022 The northern conflict over, so we all hope…
The peace-agreement
As has been well published, as of November 2nd a peace agreement between the Federal Republic of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front has been brokered with the conditions of disarmament, returning to the constitutional understanding of regional relation with the federal government and so. Within Afar Region, this is greeted with tentative joy given the horrors that have taken place over the past 2 years, the utter disruption to livelihoods and the destruction of infrastructures. Indeed, it is a reversal of the aggression so many communities adjacent to the borders of Tigray and Amhara Regions in western Afar have endured repeatedly. As of writing, there is growing confidence that peace indeed in Tigray and with Tigray will become reality with excitement in Mekele, the Regional capital as prices of commodities drop daily to within country – costs and freedom of movement is restored. Moreover, there is talk of a federal reconciliation to be established between the warring factions leading up to election in Tigray. However the country continues to endure conflict in western Oromia (Wollega) and in other Oromo areas, ethnic crimes being perpetuated. Too, the Issa/ Afar conflict appears far from over although the Issa- Somali occupancy of Awash roadside towns in Afar came to an end in September, Issa having been pushed back into their adjoining Somali Region ending the decades – long contraband trade of the Issa from Djibouti and the Arab states into Ethiopia having a market base in the 3 towns now freed to Afar control. Djibouti-fired insurgency again flared in late October adjacent to Guddamyto, one of those former contraband towns causing severe casualty.
