Ethiopia, Tigray forces to meet for first peace talks

STORY: An Ethiopian government delegation and rival Tigray forces are due to meet in South Africa, in what will be the first formal peace talks since war broke out two years ago.

The Ethiopian government delegation left for the talks on Monday (October 24), a day after the Tigray delegation arrived.

The talks will take place as Ethiopian forces and their allies make significant battlefield gains in the northern Tigray region, where they have captured several large towns in the past week.

Ethiopia’s government said in a statement it viewed the talks, which are being mediated by the African Union, as an opportunity to peacefully resolve the conflict.

Adding they hoped it would consolidate the improvement of the situation on the ground.

A spokesman for the Tigray forces said on Twitter that the focus of the talks would be on ending hostilities and improving humanitarian access.

As well as the withdrawal of Eritrean forces, who have fought alongside Ethiopian federal troops during the conflict.

The war is rooted in a power struggle between the federal government and Tigray authorities, who led the country's ruling coalition until Abiy Ahmed became prime minister in 2018.

The conflict has killed thousands, displaced millions and left hundreds of thousands on the brink of famine.

Both sides had committed to the talks in South Africa earlier this month, but they were delayed for logistical reasons.