Armed groups who accepted the government and people's call for peace have been welcomed at the Bati Burqa Rehabilitation Training Center.
It is noteworthy that the government and the people repeatedly called for peace, urging armed groups who had taken to the bush in the Amhara region to lay down their arms and return to peace. Many armed groups accepted this call and were welcomed upon their arrival.
Those who accepted the peace call and were welcomed stated, "The path we were following was worsening our people's suffering, so we prioritized peace."
These armed groups, who had been operating in various areas of the Amhara region (including North Wollo, South Wollo, North Shewa, Wag Himra Zone, Dessie, Kombolcha, and Woldiya cities) and parts of the Oromia region, were received by members of the Northern Command of the Ethiopian National Defense Force in a ceremony attended by religious leaders and elders.
The armed groups stated that they had initially entered the bush to address the Amhara people's grievances, but acknowledged that their chosen path was wrong. They explained that the civilian population of the region was the primary victim of the armed conflict, suffering from loss of life, road closures, under-functioning health facilities, school closures, and related problems.
The armed groups stated that people's grievances cannot be addressed through this approach, and that resolving problems through dialogue and cooperation with the government is a better option. They happily accepted the peace call made by the government and the people.
They expressed their readiness to compensate the community for the harm they had inflicted, and pledged to work for peace by standing alongside the National Defense Force, the nation's final bulwark. They also apologized to the people and the government for their past transgressions and attacks.
A call was made for other armed groups in the bush to accept the government and people's call for peace, as this extreme and misguided approach will not resolve the Amhara people's grievances. The armed groups also expressed their gratitude for the warm welcome they received from the National Defense Force.
Religious leaders present at the welcoming ceremony emphasized the importance of peace and expressed their appreciation for the armed groups who prioritized peace.
Colonel Girma Seyoum, commander of the Northern Command's training center, which hosted the welcoming ceremony, stated that many armed groups had accepted the government and people's call for peace. He confirmed that the army is providing a warm welcome to those who have chosen the path of peace. They conveyed a message urging other armed groups in the bush to choose peace and bring relief to the people.