Eritrea and peace with Ethiopia: four questions

The leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea are expected to meet soon to discuss the relaunching of frozen relations for decades.

Analysts believe that the end of their dispute could transform Eritrea, whose policies were dictated by impasse with its neighbor.

Here are four things to know about why the feud is so important to Eritrea – and why its end could reshape the country.

What is the significance of the dispute for Eritrea?

Very.

Eritrea argues – and a United Nations-backed delimitation commission agreed in 2002 – that Ethiopia illegally occupies land along the border between the two countries belonging to the United States. Eritrea

. a former Ethiopian province, went to war, from 1998 to 2000, in a conflict that killed about 80,000 people.

Since the end of the Algiers accord in 2000, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has used the Ethiopian rejection. Among these are the imprisonment of journalists and dissenters, the refusal to implement the constitution and execution of an indefinite military conscription program that the UN equates to slavery

. Abraham Zere, exiled journalist and executive director of the organization of the rights of literature and rights, PEN Eritrea

Does Eritrea want a rapprochement?

Yes, according to all indications

The new Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took the first step in June announcing that Ethiopia would withdraw from the city of Badme and other disputed border territories , according to the 2002 decision.

Eritrea sent two senior officials to Ethiopia, and later a meeting between Abiy and Isaias was announced, but no details were given .

"I think it's fair to say that the Eritrean leadership is engaged" Ethiopia has not yet withdrawn from the disputed regions, but this will respond to a long-standing Eritrean demand "

PEN's Abraham says that the offer was too good for Isaiah to refuse, even though, by removing the Ethiopian threat, he was likely to increase the internal pressure for the

"He is probably aware that this is the only way out. The peace proposal and the commitment on both sides is not an option, but a necessity, "says Abraham

How Peace Would Benefit Eritrea

Closely, the l, 39, 39 Eritrea and Ethiopia are among the poorest nations in Africa Analysts believe standardization of links would benefit both countries

Eritrean industries could serve growing markets of its southern neighbor much bigger and more populated. "Eritrea will win a lot, because it will be able to follow the economic momentum of 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 stimulate foreign investors consider Eritrea as free of fear of incurring anger from Addis Ababa.

"It is likely that improved relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea will further consolidate the Eritrean state." Peace could also help solve the Ethiopian problem of lack of security. 39 access to the sea: the country became landlocked after Eritrea, which included the entire Ethiopian coast, had seceded in 1993.

five years later, Ethiopian goods were stopped by the ports of the Red Sea in Eritrea, but trade and transport could restart if the two countries reconcile.

"The port of Massawa will be stimulated and become one of the alternative ports

Nobody else , officially

Last week's breakthrough meeting between Ethiopia and Eritrea was not negotiated by any third party

.The United States and the Gulf countries have between the two countries and their dispute may have contributed to to accelerate the diplomatic thaw.

Eritrea has long accused the United States of taking sides, accusing Washington of not pushing Ethiopia Woldemariam says that the United States may have decided that It was time to find a new ally after Djibouti, a neighbor of Ethiopia and Eritrea who also hosts US troops.

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