Ethiopian parliament removes rebel Tigray party from terror list

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - An important step was taken Wednesday to achieve peace in Ethiopia's northern region as parliament removed the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) from its list of designated terror organizations.

The decision was made in a vote with 61 lawmakers approving the measure with five abstentions.

"It is important to remove TPLF from the name of terrorism based on the peace agreement signed in Pretoria in a way that respects the country's constitutional system and protects the national interest of Ethiopia," parliament said in a statement.

The delisting of the TPLF is a significant development following two years of fighting in the north.

The move is expected to significantly contribute to the full implementation of the peace agreement signed last year between the federal government and the TPLF in South Africa.

Government Whip at the House, Tesfaye Belgige, said that removing the designation is crucial to Ethiopia's efforts to achieve peace.

The war between government forces and Tigray rebels erupted in November 2020 after the TPLF attacked federal army bases stationed in the northern region.

Hostilities subsided after the two sides signed agreements in South Africa and Kenya in November.

The Tigray conflict has killed thousands and displaced millions since November 2020.

A UN report late last year put the number displaced at 2.75 million, with 12.5 million children in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.