The shock of peace: Ethiopia and Eritrea finally embrace | News from the world

T The flags of both nations fly brightly and brightly. The two leaders greeted the happy crowds. Formal meetings have invaded, among ostentatious demonstrations of bonhomie. Even those responsible for ax safety seemed relaxed.

The meeting of Abiy Ahmed, the 41-year-old Ethiopian Prime Minister, and Isaias Afwerki, the 71-year-old Eritrean President in Addis Ababa, left Saturday the "seasoned Africa" ​​The pace of all this is simply staggering, "said Omar S Mahmood, of the Institute for Peace and Security Studies in Ethiopia's burgeoning capital.

The meeting between Abiy and Isaias concluded an intense diplomacy that seems to have ended one of the longest conflicts in Africa. "Words can not express the joy we now feel," says Isaias, while he was having lunch with Abiy. "We are a people, the one who forgets that does not understand our situation."

Many Ethiopians have expressed their enthusiasm on social media. "The events of the last few days between Ethiopia and Eritrea are like the fall of the Berlin Wall, only magnified 1000 times," wrote Samson Haileyesus on Facebook .The reaction in Eritrea was just as ecstatic

Analysts say such a hyperbole can be justified The bid for peace with Eritrea is the latest in a series of efforts that could bring revolutionary reform to the country. Africa's second most populous nation, transforming a region and sending shockwaves from the Mediterranean to the Cape of Good Hope.In April, Abiy electrified Ethiopia with its informal style, charisma and his energy, obtaining comparisons with Nelson Mandela, Justin Trudeau, Barack Obama and Mikhail Gorbachev, reshaped his cabinet, dismissed a series of controversial and previously untouchable officials, including the head of the Ethiopian Prison Service, lifted bans on websites and other media, released thousands of political prisoners, ordered partial privatization of large public companies, It put an end to the state of emergency imposed to quell unrest and withdrew three opposition groups from a list of "terrorist" organizations.

Nic Cheeseman, expert on African politics at the University of Birmingham, said the extraordinary campaign of Abiy Only a repressive government can guarantee the levels of development so desperately needed across Africa .

Despite forecasts by the International Monetary Fund predicting that Ethiopia, which relies on a centralized economic model and political repression for decades, would be the fastest growing economy. Sub-Saharan Africa in 2018, even the officially sanctioned press admitted the country

There is a shortage of foreign exchange, growing inequality, a lack of jobs for a large number of graduates, environmental damage, ethnic tensions and a thirst for profound change.

a powerful wave of discontent, with widespread anti-government protests led by young people. At least 70% of the population is under 30 years old.

"Ethiopia was on the brink of the abyss, they realized that they can not continue in the same way.Only an advanced democratic system would prevent the country from breaking up and a disaster. that Africa has never known before, "said Andargachew Tsege, a British citizen pardoned in May after four years of detention on death row for terrorism. Abiy invited Tsege, who was kidnapped by the Ethiopian security services four years ago, to a meeting two days after his release. They spoke for 90 minutes.

No one claims that Isaïas, the "hard and stiff" ruler of Eritrea since 1991, has many new ideas. Eritrea, which has about 5.1 million people, is the only African country where elections do not take place. Every month, 5,000 Eritreans flee their country, especially to avoid unlimited military conscription. Many are heading to Europe. The economy has stabilized for decades. The UN has accused the regime of crimes against humanity.

"The whole story of [Isaias] is like a ruthless Marxist-Leninist … Enemies have been shot down economically, his position has always been: we are completely autonomous. to become a merry clappy liberal? It is possible that it is the Mandela of Eritrea, but that seems unlikely, "said Martin Plaut, principal investigator at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies of the United States. University of London

A province of Ethiopia that encompbaded all of its red coastline.Sea, Eritrea voted to leave in 1993 after a bloody struggle of several decades.

The thaw began on last month when Abiy said that he would abide by a decision backed by the UN and would maintain disputed territory of Eritrea. Analysts say that conflicts across the region fueled by the rift are now likely to extinguish.

Pou At the moment, Abiy's reforms benefit from popular support and crucial support from a large part of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front. power in 1991.

But there is resistance. Last month, a grenade was launched at a rally organized to show support for reforms on the vast Meskel Square of Addis Ababa. Two are dead. "Love always wins … For those who have tried to divide us, I want to tell you that you have not succeeded," Abiy said after the attack.

Much depends on the determination of the Ethiopian leader. Regarded as a relative underdog before being chosen by the EPRDF board, Abiy is the leader of Ethiopia's largest ethnic community, the Oromo, who have complained for decades of economic, cultural marginalization. and politics. The EPRDF is divided by battles between four ethnic parties as well as a fierce competition between institutions and individuals.

Born in western Ethiopia, Abiy joined the resistance against the regime of Mengistu Haile Mariam before enlisting in the armed forces. After a stint in Ethiopia's cyberintelligence service, he entered politics eight years ago and quickly rose to the ranks of the Oromo faction of the EPRDF, historically at odds with the Tigrayans, who represent only 6% of the total population. had a disproportionate political and commercial influence. In a major break with the previous one, Abiy was photographed with his wife and daughters, whom he publicly thanked for their support.

As Abiy's reforms accelerate, the risks also increase. "Democracy can be achieved through benevolent leadership, but it can only be consolidated by democratic institutions, what we are seeing now is more of a cult-like personality movement," said Mekonnen Mengesha, a professor at the university.

Like other African countries – like Kenya and Zimbabwe a little over a decade ago – Efforts to reform its closed and autocratic system that does not exist.

"It's really exciting and good news, but Abiy has not done anything that actually threatens the diet," Cheeseman said. "And up to if a government is faced with a loss of power, you do not know what will happen. "