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Addis Ababa – Ethiopia and Eritrea are no longer at war, neighbors said in a joint statement on Monday following the holding of a historic meeting in Asmara [19659002] Citing a "joint declaration of peace and friendship". Eritrean Minister of Information, Yemane Gebremeskel, said on Twitter that "the state of war between the two countries has come to an end and that a new era of peace and friendship has was inaugurated [in] ". He added that the agreement was signed Monday by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, at Asmara Town Hall. The images of the ceremony showed that the two men shared a wooden desk, supported by the flags of their nations, when signing the document.
The statement echoed comments made by Abiy at a dinner hosted by Isaias on Sunday. commercial, transportation and communications links would be restored and borders reopened.
"We have agreed that airlines will start operating, ports will be accessible, people will be able to move between the two countries and embbadies will be open." "We will demolish the wall and, with love, build a bridge between the two countries," said Prime Minister
Abiy left Asmara after signing the joint agreement on Monday
. The quick rapprochement aims to end decades of animosity, conflict and long years of cold war between the two neighboring countries.
The thaw began in June when Abiy said that Ethiopia would comply with one of two- The restoration of diplomatic and commercial ties after years of bitter separation could mean great benefits to both nations, and the whole Horn of the year. Region of Africa, plagued by conflict and poverty
Eritrea, a province of Ethiopia encompbading all of its coastline on the Red Sea, decided to leave in 1993 after a bloody struggle and independent of several decades. The break-up has made Ethiopia landlocked and the deterioration of relations due to the continuation of the Cold War has forced Ethiopia to depend on Djibouti for its maritime trade. Access by Ethiopians to the ports of Eritrea will be an economic boon to both countries, while questioning the growing dominance of Djibouti, which has benefited from the import and export of the country. export of the majority of goods to the second most populous country in Africa. the border will also unite two peoples linked by history, language and ethnicity.
Regional leaders praised peace efforts, with Rwandan President Paul Kagame saying Abiy and Isaias: "We congratulate you and are with you." Kenyatta also congratulated the two leaders for "choosing the path to talk to each other and start the journey of friendship."
Since taking office in April, Abiy has reversed some of the leading policies of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front. He released prominent dissidents from prison, announced partial liberalization of the economy, admitted that security forces were using torture and pursuing peace with Eritrea.
AFP
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