PM Abiy: Pretoria Peace Agreement Turned the Page Toward Peace, Recovery and National Development

Addis Ababa, August 2, 2026 (FMC) — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement, which ended the two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia, turned the page toward peace, recovery and national development by creating conditions for rebuilding and renewed focus on shared progress.

In a recent interview with Amhara Media Corporation (AMECO), Prime Minister Abiy said the agreement helped stop the destruction caused by conflict, restore stability and allow Ethiopia to channel greater attention toward development and reconstruction efforts.

He said the peace deal benefited the Amhara, Tigray and Afar regions as well as Ethiopia as a whole by creating an environment where communities could focus on recovery, economic activities and development.

The Prime Minister explained that the agreement was reached to end the devastating conflict in northern Ethiopia and establish a framework for restoring peace, constitutional order and institutional stability.

He said one of the key principles of the agreement was ensuring a unified national security structure, with armed forces in the Tigray region required to disarm and operate within the country’s constitutional framework.

Prime Minister Abiy stressed that this arrangement should not be interpreted as undermining the interests of any Ethiopian community, including the people of the Amhara region, but rather as part of efforts to maintain national stability and security.

He further noted that the agreement paved the way for rebuilding institutions and public services affected by the conflict, while enabling the country to move toward reconstruction and long-term development.

The Prime Minister said claims that the Pretoria Agreement excluded or harmed the Amhara region were inaccurate, arguing that the implementation of the agreement has contributed to peace, improved movement and wider development opportunities.

He pointed to the relative peace that followed the agreement as a major factor that allowed development activities to expand, including reconstruction efforts and efforts to restore normal life in areas affected by conflict.

Prime Minister Abiy emphasized that Ethiopia’s internal challenges should be addressed through dialogue, reconciliation and the country’s long-established traditions of mediation rather than through confrontation.

He said building a positive national narrative centered on shared interests is essential to creating a generation that works collectively for peace, stability and development.

The Prime Minister added that Ethiopia’s future depends on overcoming divisive approaches and strengthening cooperation among citizens around common national goals.