DISPATCHES
So far neither Kenyatta nor African Union envoy Olusegun Obasanjo have had much success in nudging Abiy and the Tigrayans into talks...
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For now the onus is on a few individuals such as Nigeria's former President Olusegun Obasanjo who as the AU's Special Envoy was cleared by Addis to fly to the Tigrayan capital of Mekelle to meet TPLF President Debretsion Gebremichael on 7 November...
DISPATCHES
These regional factors overlaying the national dynamics complicate the work of two of the putative mediators: Nigeria's former President Olusegun Obasanjo who represents the African Union; and the United States special envoy to the Horn Jeffrey Feltman (AC Dispatches 7/09/21 Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo takes on mediating role in war as brickbats fly on both sides)...
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There are reports that Abiy told Kiir that he agreed to the suggestion during Kiir's visit to Addis Ababa but this looks doubtful in view of the constraints Addis is imposing on Nigerian ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo's better-known African Union-backed mediation mission (AC Vol 62 No 18 Lies damned lies and statistics)...
International organisations are backing the mission of the African Union's new special envoy to the Horn Nigeria's former President Olusegun Obasanjo who is expected to get mediation under way...
United States President Joe Biden is ready to impose sanctions on federal Amhara Tigray and Eritrean commanders if fighting does not cease and humanitarian aid is not allowed to reach affected populations (AC Dispatches 7/9/21 Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo takes on mediating role in war as brickbats fly on both sides)...
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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is a fan of Adesina's as are a few other former generals...
In the early 2000s vice-president Yemi Osinbajo played a pivotal role as Lagos attorney general in securing a legal victory for the state over the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency to have more autonomy over allocations to local councils...
The African Union's appointment of Nigeria's former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been greeted with scepticism by both sides but more so from Tigray (AC Dispatches 7/9/21 Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo takes on mediating role in war as brickbats fly on both sides)...
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But the regional reception for their choice of retired general and former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo has been lukewarm with officials on both sides expressing unhappiness...
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Abuja first canvassed the prospect of reform after the return to civilian rule in 1999 when then President Olusegun Obasanjo found that the thicket of overlapping and sometimes contradictory legislation prevented the reverse of some of the most egregious and politically motivated contract and licence awards made by the military (AC Vol 40 No 21 Cleaning up oil)...