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The leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea are expected to meet soon to discuss the revival of frozen relations for decades.
Analysts believe that the end of their dispute could transform Eritrea, whose policies were dictated by impbade with its neighbor.
Here are four things to know about why the quarrel is so important to Eritrea, and why its end might reshape the country.
The country was suspended for 20 years and everything revolved around
Eritrea supports, and a United Nations-backed delimitation commission agreed in 2002, that Ethiopia illegally occupies lands along the border of the two countries belonging to Eritrea.
19659003] It is along this border that Ethiopia and Eritrea, the former Ethiopian province, went to war, from 1998 to 2000, in a conflict that caused about 80,000 dead.
Since the agreement of Algiers in 2000 Isaias Afwerki, President of Eritrea, has used Ethiopia's refusal of the border decision to justify a series of domestic policies repressive
including the imprisonment of journalists and dissidents, the refusal to implement the constitution and an indefinite military draft program. "The country was put on hold for 20 years and everything revolved around [the border dispute]," says Abraham Zere, exiled journalist and executive director of the Organization of Literature and Rights, PEN [L&#EthiopiaagreeswiththebordersoftheEritrean-Eritreanborderwouldbedetermined
Does Eritrea want normalization of relations with Ethiopia?
The new Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took the first step in June by announcing that Ethiopia would withdraw from the city of Badme and other disputed border territories, in accordance with the 2002 decision. [19659004] Eritrea responded "peace delegation" in Ethiopia, and later a meeting between Abiy and Isaias was announced, but no details were given.
"I think it's fair to say that Eritrean leaders are engaged in a political rapprochement," says Michael Woldemariam of Boston's Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies. University
Ethiopia has not yet withdrawn from disputed areas, but this will respond to a long-standing Eritrean demand.
PEN the offer was too good for Isaiah to refuse, although, by removing the Ethiopian threat, he was likely to increase the domestic pressure for reform.
"He is probably aware that this is the only way out.The peace proposal and the commitment of both parties are not an option, but a necessity," says Abraham
How Peace Would it benefit Eritrea?
Analysts believe that the normative ties would benefit both countries. "Eritrea will win a lot because it will be able to keep up with the economic momentum of the country. Ethiopia, "says Marc Lavergne of the National Center for Scientific Research in Paris.Woldemariam argues that the settlement of the dispute with Ethiopia could also encourage foreign investors to consider Eritrea as free of the wrath of the United States. Addis Ababa
"It is likely that improved relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea will strengthen the rehabilitation of Eritrea. Peace could also help solve the problem of access to the sea of Ethiopia: the country became landlocked after Ethiopia, which included the entire Ethiopian coast, seceded in 1993
Ethiopia seeks economic union with neighbors
The war breaks out five years later. "The Port of Mbadawa will be stimulated and will become one of the alternative ports for Ethiopia," says Lavergne
Who else is involved?
Last week's breakthrough meeting between Ethiopia However, badysts say the US and Gulf policy shifts towards the two countries and their dispute may have played a role in the haste of the diplomatic thaw.
Eritrea has long accused the United States of taking sides, accusing Washington of not having pushed Ethiopia to abide by the border decision, and to have supported the sanctions of the Security Council against her.
Woldemariam says that the United States It was time to find a new ally after Djibouti, a neighbor of Ethiopia and Eritrea who also hosts US troops, allowed the Chinese people to escape. to open a military base on his land. The Red Sea region, the presence of China in Djibouti, in particular, the United States have some interest in normalizing relations with Eritrea, "said Woldemariam
. UAE ]), which allegedly opened a military base at the port of Assab, in southern Eritrea.
The two allies of Ethiopia have led some to see the behind-the-scenes role played by Gulf of Ethiopia
"These countries have Eritrea under financial infusion. "Lavergne claims that the President of Eritrea met with Crown Prince Abu Dhabi Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry said the two leaders discussed recent regional developments and trends of importance
The Crown Prince traveled to Ethiopia in June, following a smiling visit to the Abirats by Abiy.
Abiy says that the New Year will be celebrated in Eritrea and Ethiopian Airlines resumes flights
AFP
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