(Updated Article of 2024)

Media initiatives are most effective when they are part of a broader, overarching peacebuilding strategy, serving as a source of non-partisan, balanced information, helping to inform policymakers and build consensus on peacebuilding initiatives Spurk, C., (2002). Meanwhile, the basic essence of acting as a watchdog in peace building process involves monitoring public needs and the cooperativeness of peace processes rely on transparency and oversight. Media can highlight the impact of peacebuilding efforts, demonstrating both successes and failures. This provides evidence that can be used to justify and improve future strategies and resource allocation, Furthermore, media can create platforms for dialogue and engagement, both online and offline, allowing citizens to participate in the peace process and providing a way to influence policy makers and diplomatic community to incorporate public input into their official strategies. Thus, the research investigated the role of media and both the agreed parties, the international actors’ policies.

The study focused on the three years Permanent Cessation of Hostilities for Lasting Peace between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (COHA Nov 2, 2022). It applied the ‘CNN’ effect and the ‘Agenda Setting Function of Media’ theories in specific measurements of peace building process. Of course, the pathways to peace are non-linear, with the appeasing scheme, amalgamation of different practices can be considered. The research parameters are at most in line with A New Agenda for Peace," of July 20, 2023 report by Secretary-General António Guterres. The policy vision to revitalize collective security through trust, solidarity, and universality, while adapting to a changing global security landscape has been woven with proposed actions boosting preventive diplomacy, and Strengthening peace operations and partnerships are among others. Thus, the main parameter measurement of the study are six. These are Cases Settled by CHOA 2022, Number of Political Dialogs, International Actors Involvement, News Coverage of Events, Media Issues Based on Public Affairs, Issues Transformed for Media Agenda Setting. The study assigned the simple ordinal five point scale to rank average frequency of these parameters in three years course of the agreement.

The research found out that medium frequency result for the parameters in the three months course of the agreement 2022/23 compared to three months before COHA Nov, 2022. The result exceeds above average for the pivotal agreement itself, and the Nairobi Declaration, the establishment of AU-MVCM. However, the graph declined after initial cases of the agreement settled. The 2024 year of the agreement was scored low level result for the absence of settling additional issues. The international actors’ lack of involvement by releasing press statements and visits. The results of media role clearly found on its extent of event coverage dependency than follow up issue development and on spot investigations. The 2024 result preserved from lower level result for the reflection meeting of the agreed parties in October 2024 with all stockholders alongside AU summit. The research asserts that controversies between the agreed parties entice attention of stockholders in 2025. But, the international actors’ involvement and the media role dropped out again after the re-establishment of interim government in April 2025. The level resulted as 2024 with slight digits sloppiness.

The investigation of content analysis asserted that one out of the four event, press release and reports of AU-MVCM were aired by the international media. Even, there were not searched results on spot investigative reporting of humanitarian needs, safety, security and, other public interests. Though international actors’ involvement were low, media agenda setting both for news selection and issue agenda setting found at its lower level. The best example was the Joint Statement of the European Union (EU) COHA 3rd year Anniversary. Aljazeera and BBC aired the statement but searched no results for that topical issue in Inside Story, News night, Question Time programs respectively. Moreover, the CNN reported extensively on the time of conflict and, in the initial progress of the agreement but non search evidence of CNN coverage for EU Statement.

Media is recommended to achieve its responsibility in peace building by acting as a public watchdog. It should serve as platform for social and political discourse to accommodate diverse perspectives. In turn, Media holds governments, INGOs, IGOs and NGOs, and Civic Societies accountable, and help shape public opinion and understanding in the peace building process. In Overarching,, the study might axle from willingness to Trustworthiness process,

AU Policies and Media for Peace Building. How Long It Takes from Willingness to Trustworthy?