… The silence of the African Union over the war and the atrocities perpetrated by the forces ranged against us was a betrayal of the Foundational Principles of the Union. We have consistently condemned the failure of the African Union Chairperson and his High Representative to take a position consistent with their solemn obligations under the Constitutive Act of the Union, the Protocol establishing the Peace and Security Council, and a host of other commitments entered into. In the considered view of the People and Government of Tigray the leadership of the African Union Commission has yet to redeem its failures and restore our trust.
We received the High Representative of the AU Chairperson in Tigray on the basis of the African principle of hospitality, respect for an elder, and respect for the institution of the African Union. However, the proximity of the High Representative to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia has not gone unnoticed by our people.
We express our confidence in the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and our appreciation to President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her readiness to support peace efforts in Ethiopia.
We express our confidence in the Government of Kenya and our appreciation to President Uhuru Kenyatta, for his sustained, principled, impartial, inclusive, and discreet efforts to broker peace negotiations with a view to a comprehensive resolution of the crisis in Ethiopia. the government and people of Kenya have demonstrated, over the years, their impartiality, honesty and solidarity towards Ethiopia, and their commitment to the Norms and Principles of the African Union.
On this basis we hold firm to the existing agreement among the Parties to meet in Nairobi for negotiations hosted and facilitated by the President of Kenya.
We welcome the engagement of international partners in support of this agreed initiative. Our position remains that the peace process requires the engagement of a range of international partners, under the leadership of the Government of Kenya. Among those partners are the United States, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, the United Nations, and the African Union.