“In this process, although we came from different sides in a deadly internal conflict, we were united in our resolve to make peace… We were appalled at how the promise of a new generation was being wasted on battlefields across northern Ethiopia.”
Published: June 11, 2026
VOE News Desk ADDIS ABABA — In an unprecedented joint declaration, the two primary architects of Ethiopia’s 2022 peace deal have issued an urgent warning that “extremist elements” are actively trying to dismantle the nation’s fragile stability.
Getachew Reda, Minister Advisor for East African Affairs, and Redwan Hussein, Director General of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), co-authored a striking joint op-ed published by Al Jazeera today. The high-profile figures—who famously shook hands in South Africa as lead negotiators for opposing sides to end the devastating Tigray War—warned that a “strategic miscalculation” could once again plunge the Horn of Africa into a catastrophic conflict.
Key Takeaways from the Joint Op-Ed
Imminent Threat Alleged: The authors claim a hardline “rump” of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has illegally dismantled the regional interim administration and is preparing a military offensive against the federal government.
Foreign Interference: The piece explicitly accuses Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki of backing a clandestine coalition of “misfits” to keep Ethiopia weak, fractured, and bleeding.
Call for Global Pressure: The co-authors are demanding an “uncompromising message” from the international community to sanction and deter those attempting to violently abrogate the 2022 Pretoria Agreement.
From Enemies to Allies: The Spirit of Pretoria
Reflecting on the tense November 2022 negotiations in Pretoria, South Africa, Getachew and Redwan revealed that initial host protocols were highly rigid, with security personnel fearing that the two delegations might break out into physical altercations.
However, the authors noted that the host country was “pleasantly surprised” when both sides bypassed strict protocol to communicate directly, setting aside English to discuss matters in their native languages. Despite grueling, past-midnight debates that nearly collapsed multiple times, the co-authors emphasized a shared baseline of humanity:
“In this process, although we came from different sides in a deadly internal conflict, we were united in our resolve to make peace… We were appalled at how the promise of a new generation was being wasted on battlefields across northern Ethiopia.”
