Ethiopia’s Tigray Rebels Accuse AU Of Bias

Tigray rebels accused the African Union (AU) on Sunday of “bias” following the appointment by the pan-African organization of a mediator in the conflict that has been tearing northern Ethiopia apart for nearly a year.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has been appointed as representative of the AU in the Horn of Africa with the mission to “promote peace, security, stability, and political dialogue.

Taking to Twitter, spokesman for the rebels Getachew Reda said it would be naive to think that this mission could work, noting that Resolving a crisis requires at least the recognition of the existence, if not the importance, of a problem.

Reda asked how one can expect a constructive role from an organization that has given full meaning to the word partiality.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, for his part, has repeatedly rejected any proposal to hold talks with the group. Addis Ababa has designated the TPLF a terrorist organization.

In late June, government forces withdrew from the Tigray regional capital of Mekelle after Addis Ababa announced a ceasefire. The rebels rejected the offer and attacked the neighboring Amhara and Afar regions in their bid to march on the capital.

The conflict has been a sensitive issue for the African Union, and Ethiopia’s allies have prevented any discussion of the issue at the UN Security Council.

The conflict which was sparked last November by an attack on a federal army base by TPLF forces has threatened to further destabilize Africa’s second-most populous country.

On Sunday, Abiy met with the leaders of Uganda and Rwanda in Entebbe and Kigali respectively.