Ethiopia and Eritrea have agreed to resume diplomatic relations. The Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isjas Afewerki reported such a historical step in the Eritrean metropolis Asmara. It is the first ever meeting between the two countries in nearly twenty years. In 1998, a two-year war started between the two states, and relations between them were subsequently burdened by a protracted border dispute; but now both countries converge.
"We agreed to open embassy offices in our countries, allow our people to visit each other and let our airlines and ports operate freely," Ethiopian Prime Minister Ahmed said. The phone was renewed on Sunday as well.
The leaders are in favor of destroying the wall between the two states. "We can imagine that the decisions made by the President of the Ethiopian Government are not easy. However, we can assure you that we will face the future together," said Eritrean President Afewerki.
Ahmed's arrival was watched by local television, the streets decorated by the flags of both states, and crowds danced on the roads. Both politian went to the presidential palace.
Ahmed confirmed the peace treaty
The Ethiopian Prime Minister a month ago surprisingly announced that he acceps a peace agreement to end the war. Eritrea and Ethiopia since its outbreak in 1998 did not maintain diplomatic relations.
Ahmed was personally involved in the fighting, and the crashes then continued, so the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict was one of the longest in Africa.
Fitsum Arega of Ahmed's office said the purpose of the prime minister's visit was to contribute to an effort to make lasting peace. "Both our peoples are bound by ties like no other country. Now we can overcome two decades of mistrust and move in a new direction, " wrote Arega on Twitter.
Many people were surprised by the Ethiopian meeting in Asmara. "It's historic, they broke the glass ceiling," wrote Ethiopian Shewit Wudassie on Facebook. "Is it real, or what?" another person from the crowd responded.
Prime Minister Ahmed began reforming the country
Thirty-four-year-old Ahmed took office in the Ethiopian Prime Minister's office in April and immediately pushed for reforms. The rapid adoption of the peace agreement was one of its most significant and most surprising steps.
The prime minister also let the jailed journalists and members of the opposition release, open the state-run economy, and allow the unblocking of many websites.
Afewerki, shortly after Ahmed's adoption of the peace plan, sent the first official delegation to Addis Ababa to prepare the next steps.
Ethiopia is the second most populous state in Africa and one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Eritrea, on the contrary, is one of the most culminated countries. Afewerki has ruled since 1993, when independence from Ethiopia was declared.
But both countries still have close cultural relations. Many refugees from Eritrea are now heading to Europe. The country has strict conditions for the army, which criticize many African states.
