In the modern world, the foundations of peacemaking, peacebuilding, and democracy are the reasons why humanity still exists. Ethiopian President Abiy Ahmed seemed to follow peacemaking principles, resolving a conflict that lasted 20 years. However, Abiy Ahmed became a participant in a new contest, which contradicted democracy and peacebuilding a year later. Moreover, this violent conflict has led to a wave of migrants, an acute problem before that. The aim of this paper is to analyze the reasons and possible ways to end this conflict regarding the concepts of peacemaking and peacebuilding.
In 2018, Ethiopian President Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki signed a peace agreement that ended a prolonged border conflict. Cultural, financial, and logistic ties were restored, and Abiy Ahmed was awarded the Nobel Prize. However, in 2020, a civil war was started against the forces of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and Ethiopian authorities. After the conflict turned into a military phase, fierce fighting and clashes led to a new wave of refugees and migrants. Thus, asylum seekers can lead to racial mixing or substitution and health issues (in the event that they have to live in unsanitary conditions for a long time).
Before identifying possible ways to resolve this violent conflict, it is necessary to analyze such concepts as peacemaking and peacebuilding in more detail. The peak state of irritation and discontent from both parties is direct hostilities, which firstly originated from threats. Peacemaking is a way to achieve repose, which includes diplomatic, peaceful, and fair methods of resolving disputes. Peacebuilding includes more ambitious measures to achieve peace, such as supporting the fight against corruption and implementing humanitarian programs. Peacebuilding is more than just an instrumental method of achieving peace. It also includes training, education, and human rights monitoring through observation and analysis of past or existing violations.
Elections held by the Tigray administration unleashed the conflict in Tigray, and the Ethiopian government declared the vote illegal. The reason for this was the Covid-19 pandemic, due to which the elections throughout the country were postponed. Further, the Ethiopian parliament broke off all diplomatic relations with the Tigray (Council of Representatives) legislative border, and the conflict entered a military phase. Armed formations of TPLF were created that opposed the Ethiopian army. According to observers, the management of TPLF wants to restore its power in Ethiopia, which led to military confrontations.
Peacemaking is usually characterized by measures that deal with a pre-existing conflict. Thus, in the current confrontation, it is important to determine a process to finish it using the framework of peacemaking. Thereby, the main principle is to bring the parties of the conflict to negotiations. In the future, these negotiations should lead to the development of a documented or oral (less often) agreement. Accordingly, in the current conflict, such items as the withdrawal of troops, the disbandment of armed groups, and a number of economic agreements could be considered.
Peacebuilding’s main goal is to prevent escalation or revival of the conflict in the event of a settlement. Additionally, the main goal is to develop an environment with a mutually beneficial policy for further development. In this regard, in the event of a settlement of the current confrontation, it is necessary to review political, financial, and logistic points between the parties. Further, given the main principle of peacebuilding, namely the construction of a peaceful, free, and developing state, one should develop strategies and actions in the event of a new confrontation. In other words, it is necessary to understand what points will be possible to yield, but at the same time, it should be beneficial to the state and not damage its economic development.
To conclude, the process of conflict resolution is a multifaceted and complex concept. It includes two main phases, namely peacemaking and peacebuilding. The first point includes measures that are taken in the event of an ongoing war and are aimed at its resolution. Possible ways to resolve the current conflict in the framework of peacemaking would be to lead the parties to negotiations. The end result should be a document (or verbal agreement), which outlines the points of a mutual solution to the conflict. There may be some political, economic, or logistical concessions, and the main mechanism is the principle of reciprocity. Regarding the peacebuilding framework, these points should involve those that would prevent the reescalation of the conflict.