The Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have agreed on a permanent cessation of hostilities after two years of fighting.

Negotiators of the warring parties reached the agreement on Wednesday, November 2 in South Africa, where the first face-to-face peace talks began last week, facilitated by the African Union (AU).

The AU had expressed optimism when the talks to end the war in Ethiopia’s northern region of Tigray began.

"The two parties in the Ethiopian conflict have formally agreed to the cessation of hostilities as well as to systematic, orderly, smooth and coordinated disarmament,” Olusegun Obasanjo, the former Nigerian president and AU’s high representative in the Horn of Africa, said in Pretoria.

According to Reuters, Obasanjo said the agreement included "restoration of law and order, restoration of services, unhindered access to humanitarian supplies and protection of civilians.”

He added: "This moment is not the end of the peace process, but the beginning of it.”

Alongside Obasanjo, Uhuru Kenya, former Kenyan president, South Africa’s former deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka were the mediators.

The agreement will allow deliveries of humanitarian aid.

The two parties have also agreed on a disarmament plan.

Redwan Hussien, the Ethiopian government representative, national security adviser, said all parties should respect the agreement.

Getachew Reda, a TPLF spokesman, said he hoped both parties would honour their commitments to peace.

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the ceasefire agreement, according to his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.