Key border points between Ethiopia and Eritrea reopened today, paving the way for trade between the two nations, in the latest iteration of a historic warming of relations between the former foes.
Ethiopia’s reformist new prime minister Abiy Ahmed and longtime Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki were both present for the opening of the Debay Sima – Burre crossing, along with military personnel. The Burre frontier was the location of some of the fiercest fighting in the 1998-2000 war.
The two leaders opened the Serha-Zalambesa border in a second ceremony, shown on Ethiopian state television.
The Serha-Zalambesa border post is situated on a key road, just north of the border town of Zalambesa, and will link the capital of Ethiopia’s Tigray region with Eritrea’s capital Asmara.
The border opening follows the brokering of a peace deal, assisted by the UAE, in which phone lines were reconnected and planes flew between the two countries for the first time in decades.
Mr Ahmed and Mr Afwerki also celebrated the Ethiopian new year together on the border with their troops, Mr Abiy’s Chief of Staff said on Twitter.
Eritrea’s information minister also announced the opening on Twitter,
Since signing a peace agreement on July 9, the two leaders have moved swiftly to reconnect roads, telecommunications and diplomacy.
Eritrea reopened its embassy in Ethiopia in July, and Ethiopia reciprocated last week. Eritrea has opened up its ports to its landlocked neighbour and commercial flights restarted.
Ethiopia follows the ancient Julian calendar, meaning the country entered its year 2011 on Tuesday.