Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has communicated that he will not attend the African Union-convened peace talks scheduled for Saturday in South Africa.

Uhuru disclosed he will not be attending the peace talks in a letter he wrote on Friday to the Chairperson African Union Moussa Faki Mahamat.

In his letter, Uhuru acknowledged the invitation he received to attend the peace talks and the effort it takes the AU team to organise the meeting.

“I wish to convey my warmest regards to you and the African Union (AU) team that is working hard to organize the AU-Convened Peace Talks on Ethiopia,” Uhuru said.

“It is my hope that both the Ethiopian Government and the Tigrayan Regional Leadership will take part in this Pan-African effort to end the conflict in their country. My attention has been drawn to a communique Ref: CCP/Y695.10,22 dated October 1, 2022, regarding the Ethiopian Peace Process scheduled for October 8, 2022, in South Africa.”

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Uhuru notified the Au office that he will not attend the Saturday meeting citing conflicts in his schedule.

However, the peace envoy expressed his interest in receiving clarity on the structure and modalities of the peace talk to help with his engagement and participation.

“Regrettably, I wish to notify your good office that I will not be able to attend the AU-Convened Peace Talks scheduled for October 8, 2022 in South Africa owing to conflicts in my schedule,” the peace envoy said.

“However, in the interim and as you consider the possibility for another date for the peace talks, I would be grateful to receive further clarity on the structure and modalities of the talks, including but not limited to the rules of engagement for all the interlocutors invited. This clarification would greatly help in preparations for my engagement and participation.”

Uhuru also said he hoped that among the most urgent issues high on that meeting’s agenda will be the immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities.