Ethiopia and Eritrea have just made a breakthrough peace deal, ending what was Africa’s deadliest border war.
The two nations were at war from 1998 to 2000, but a 2002 border ruling was not accepted by Ethiopia. Now, Ethiopia has agreed to the ruling, resolving two decades of hostility.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed traveled to Asmara, Eritrea, last week to sign a pact formally ending the war and agreeing to re-establish diplomatic ties and trade relations. Eritrea’s President Isaias Afwerki is currently visiting Ethiopia for the first time since the war, and was greeted on his arrival today by thousands of people, many waving Eritrean flags, in Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres says the peace efforts will have “a far-reaching positive impact on the whole region”.
As the nations look ahead peacebuilding on the ground will be important and normalizing relations will be key. Ethiopian Airlines have announced that they will restart flights to Eritrea for the first time in 20 years, UN sanctions may be lifted and citizens on both sides are celebrating.
