Ethiopia said on Thursday that no "parallel" effort would be pursued for talks with Tigray rebels other than the mediation by the African Union with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo as the facilitator, Anadolu Agency reports. Addressing a weekly press briefing, Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Meles Alem reiterated Ethiopia's stand to engage in talks with the Tigray rebels without any precondition. A widely circulated social media report last week suggested that the African Union Commission had recommended the inclusion of the UN, US, and EU in the mediation. That document purported to be issued by the African Union Commission's Political Affairs, Peace and Security Commission "is a fake document," said the spokesperson. He, however, said the African Union Commission may, if necessary, engage renowned Africans to support Obasanjo in his efforts.

Source: Ethiopian News August 11, 2022 23:22 UTC