Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist July 2018 | Page 52

AFRICA DIARY
peace between the two countries. Then on 26 June 2018, a
high-level Eritrean delegation travelled to Addis Ababa, the
fi rst time in more than two decades that a top-level delegation
from Asmara had visited Ethiopia. During the historic visit,
the delegation delivered a message from President Isaias
to Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed and also held extensive
discussions with the PM and other senior Ethiopian offi cials
on current relations and the prospect of ties between the two
countries.
The next step in the fast-developing situation occurred
when the Ethiopian PM, accompanied by a small delegation,
made a landmark visit to Asmara, Eritrea’s capital, to engage
in historic talks with the Eritrean President. PM Abiy Ahmed
was welcomed very warmly, and at the conclusion of his trip,
he and his Eritrean counterpart signed the Joint Declaration
of Peace and Friendship between Eritrea and Ethiopia. The
agreement, inter alia, formally ended the long-standing state of
war between the two countries and agreed on resuming trade
and ties, opening embassies, restoring telecommunications
links, developing ports, and restarting direct fl ights between
the two countries. Subsequently, a week later, the Eritrea
president visited Ethiopia for several days of meetings and
was warmly and graciously welcomed.
Potential Importance
After years of stalemate, bitter rivalry, antagonism,
and tension, developments toward peace between the two
countries can only be regarded as highly positive and
extremely encouraging. Both countries are faced with a
number of signifi cant challenges, and thus an end to the
costly – and largely unnecessary – confl ict and tensions will
allow the two to better focus their attention on addressing
their various and considerable challenges. For instance, with
peace and stability, vital human and fi scal resources can
be used to combat poverty, improve education and human
capital, or promote development, rather than having to be
diverted toward defense and national security. Ultimately,
peace and stability between the two can reignite once-thriving
cross-border trade and economic activities, while promoting
investment, and a number of high-potential sectors, such as
manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism.
A relationship between the two countries based on
mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation will also
contribute to establishing sustainable peace, security, and
development across the region. For example, before the
outbreak of their confl ict, from 1991 until 1998 Eritrea and
Ethiopia had worked closely to bring about a solution to the
Somali crisis. Moreover, the two countries, working together,
can help promote and revitalize important regional security
architectures – such as the Intergovernmental Authority on
Development (IGAD), an eight-country bloc which includes
governments from the Horn of Africa, Nile Valley and
Great Lakes – that can play a pivotal role in the prevention,
management, and resolution of confl icts.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Erirean President Isaias Afwerki.
52 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 7 • July 2018, Noida