Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta had been scheduled to officially begin his role in the Ethiopia conflict mediation on Saturday, October 8.
The African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat had invited Uhuru to South Africa to be part of a “troika of negotiators” to help the warring parties establish terms of their dialogue.
However, on Friday, October 7, the former Head of State technically pulled out of the scheduled peace talks between the Ethiopian Government and the rebel group Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
In a diplomatic note, the former Head of State said that he would be engaged in other roles.
“My attention has been drawn to a communiqué regarding the Ethiopian peace process in South Africa,
“Regrettably, I wish to notify your good office that I will not be able to attend the AU-Convened Peace Talks scheduled for October 8, 2022, in South Africa owing to conflicts in my schedule,” Uhuru said.
Uhuru further asked the mediators to consider rescheduling the peace talks, stating that he would be grateful to receive further clarity on the structure and modalities of the talks, including but not limited to the rules of engagement for all the interlocutors invited.
“However, in the interim, and as you consider the possibility of another date for the peace talks, I would be grateful to receive further clarity on the structure and modalities of the talks, including but not limited to the rules of engagement for all the interlocutors invited,” Uhuru said.
During his swearing-in on Tuesday, September 13, President William Ruto said he had agreed with Uhuru to have him as a peace envoy for the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa.
“I have asked my elder brother President Uhuru Kenyatta who has done commendable engagements with those regions and he has graciously agreed to continue chairing those discussions on behalf of the people of Kenya,” Ruto said.
