By Timothy Oyomare
Nigeria’s former president and African Union’s envoy, Olusegun Obasanjo, has denied being rejected as Ethiopia mediator, saying he has not faced any resistance in his efforts to mediate between the Ethiopian federal government and rebel groups.
“Nobody has rejected my mediation,” Mr Obasanjo told BBC Focus on Africa radio from Ethiopia where he has been meeting people from both sides of the conflict in his role as African Union envoy.
Speaking from Addis Ababa, Obasanjo said he has met separately with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and leaders of the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and everybody has come around to accept that the African Union’s effort at appointing a higher representative for the Horn of Africa to promote peace, security, stability, and political dialogue.
“The president of Tigray… received me the way I would be received by an African leader… so the idea of shunning and not receiving me and all that is incorrect.”
“Everybody is saying: ‘Look, we appreciate you being appointed. We know this is the way to go. We want somebody who is an honest broker… and we can’t get anybody better than you.'”
But what of talks to bring an end to the year-long conflict that has left millions desperately in need of food aid?
The former Nigerian president would not be drawn on this.
He said at this stage he is “trying to find out what are the issues of importance to different groups” before broaching the subject of negotiations.
Spokesman for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front Getachew Reda tweeted a picture earlier of Mr Obansanjo with TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael, saying the discussions were “fruitful”.
-BBC