H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf,

Chairperson, African Union Commission

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Subject: Urgent Concern Regarding the Consequence of NEBE’s decision to the Pretoria Agreement

Excellency,

The signing of the Pretoria Agreement marked the end of a devastating two-year genocidal war in Tigray. Beyond the cessation of hostilities, the agreement was intended to serve as a cornerstone for sustainable peace by addressing the root causes of the conflict. However, there has been less than little meaningful progress in implementing its key provisions. This erosion of commitment has culminated in classifying the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)-a principal signatory to the accord- as an “illegal political party” by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia, an act that fundamentally violates the validity and integrity of the Pretoria Agreement.

Article 3 (c) & (d) and Article 10 of the Pretoria Agreement clearly commits both parties to mutual recognition. In direct violation of this binding commitment, the Federal Government of Ethiopia (FGE) has unilaterally reframed this inherently political issue as a mere legal and administrative matter, thereby allowing the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia to classify the TPLF as an “illegal political party”. This is also in direct contravention of Article 6 (c) and Article 7 (1)(a)-(d) of the Peace and Security Council Protocol, which together empower the Council to mediate disputes, prevent conflicts and authorize appropriate measures to uphold peace agreements. The unilateral FGE’s decision denies the TPLF a right it had reclaimed through the Pretoria Agreement and poses a serious threat to the foundation of the peace process.

The TPLF believes that disagreements regarding the interpretation or implementation of the Agreement should be addressed through constructive political dialogue. Consistent with this belief, we have repeatedly requested the convening of a political dialogue under the framework of the Pretoria Agreement. Unfortunately, the Federal Government has demonstrated no willingness to engage, opting instead for unilateral and administrative measures that continue to erode the spirit of peace the Agreement initially rekindled.

Excellency,

In this context, we respectfully request you to (1) convene an emergency session of the High-Level Panel on Ethiopia to mediate the dispute between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) and the TPLF regarding the latter’s legal status; (2) place the matter on the agenda of the AU Peace and Security Council at its next sitting, pursuant to PSC Protocol Articles 6 and 7, in order to (i) assess the compliance of NEBE’s action with the CoHA and (ii) recommend measures that will safeguard the peace process; and (3) to pressure the Government of Ethiopia suspend enforcement of the NEBE’s cancellation until the High-Level Panel and the PSC have issued guidance consistent with the CoHA.

Please accept. Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration

H.E Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for political Affairs, Peace and security AUC

H.E. Ambassador Harold Bundu Saffa, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the AU and Chairperson of the PSC for May 2025

H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of the Republic of Nigeria, AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa and Chair of the High-Level Panel