From Meki (Ethiopia), we want to share with all the readers of Agora XXI the joy of the most important political event in recent years in this country, which many may have already read in the press: we are talking about the peace recently signes between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
After two decades of hostilities and broken diplomatic relations between the two countries, the "end of the state of war" and a declaration of "peace and friendship" have now been signed. Ethiopia and Eritrea were in conflict since, after Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, border tensions ended in an open war between 1998 and 2000. In 2000 an agreement was signed (the Algiers agreement), in which both parties committed to accept the border lines established by the Border Commission of Ethiopia and Eritrea. However, Ethiopia soon changed its position when the commission decided to grant Eritrea the city of Badme, the epicenter of the war.
The relations between both African countries did not advance until last April, when Abiy Ahmed was appointed as the new Prime Minister of Ethiopia. We applaud this development, so relevant to the welfare and economic development of the two countries and all its people, including all the inhabitants of our region. We hope that the new leadership of the country will bring many good news for all of its people.
