By Abal Tadele, reporter
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – The Ethiopian government has announced that it will drop criminal charges against leaders of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebel group.
This announcement comes as part of a peace deal that was signed in November of last year, aimed at ending the conflict in the northern Tigray region.
The Ethiopian Justice Ministry released a statement on Thursday, stating that in accordance with the peace agreement, all criminal charges against TPLF leaders were being withdrawn.
The charges were related to the TPLF’s alleged involvement in a series of violent attacks in the Tigray region, which had escalated into a full-scale conflict between the group and the Ethiopian government.
The peace deal, which was brokered by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and other international partners, called for an immediate ceasefire, the withdrawal of all forces from the region, and the establishment of a transitional government in Tigray. The deal also required the Ethiopian government to release all political prisoners and drop charges against opposition leaders.
The withdrawal of criminal charges against TPLF leaders is a significant step towards achieving lasting peace in the region.
It follows several other measures taken by the Ethiopian government in recent months, including the release of political prisoners and the establishment of a dialogue with opposition groups.
However, the situation in Tigray remains fragile, and there are concerns that violence could erupt again if the peace deal is not fully implemented.
The two-year conflict has already caused significant damage to the region’s infrastructure and economy, and thousands of people have been killed or displaced.
The Ethiopian government has called on all parties to respect the peace deal and work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
The international community has also welcomed the government’s decision to drop charges against TPLF leaders and has called for further efforts to ensure that the peace deal is fully implemented.
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