MARTIN PLAUT: How former enemies Ethiopia and Eritrea are talking after two decades of conflict

Unlike the protestors seen across Britain, however, the crowds who thronged the Eritrean capital of Asmara were thrilled by the presence of their visitor, the Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed, who was greeted by Eritrea’s president Isaias Afwerki. Those who gathered on the city’s normally quiet streets were overjoyed by his arrival, and sang and danced as Abiy’s car drove past.

The outpouring of emotion was a reflection of the quite stunning change in relations between the two countries in recent weeks. Few of those who had headed out onto the streets believed they would ever see such an extraordinarily rapid end to two decades of vituperation and aggression. After talks, the president and prime minister signed a declaration ending 20 years of hostility and restoring normal ties between their countries.

Days later, a reciprocal visit occurred, with Isaias travelling to Ethiopia, where he was welcomed on arrival by Abiy – and thousands of cheering locals, many waving Eritrean flags.

The first indication that these historic events might be possible came in early June. Abiy declared that he would accept the outcome of an international commission’s finding over a disputed border between the two countries. It was the border conflict of 1998-2000, and Ethiopia’s refusal to accept the commission’s ruling, that was behind two decades of armed confrontation. With this out of the way, everything began to fall swiftly into place.

The two countries are now formally at peace. Airlines will connect their capitals once more, Ethiopia will use Eritrea’s ports again – its natural outlet to the sea – and diplomatic relations will be resumed.

Perhaps most important of all, the border will be demarcated. This won’t be an easy task. Populations who thought themselves citizens of one country could find themselves in another. This could provoke strong reactions, unless both sides show flexibility and compassion.

For Eritrea there are real benefits – not only the revenues from Ethiopian trade through its ports, but also the potential of substantial potash developments on the Ethiopia-Eritrea border that could be very lucrative.

For Ethiopia, there would be the end to Eritrean subversion, with rebel movements deprived of a rear base from which to attack the government in Addis Ababa. In return, there is every chance that Ethiopia will now push for an end to the UN arms embargo against the Eritrean government.

Although the June breakthrough seemed to come out of the blue, it had actually been months in the making. Some of the first moves came quietly from religious groups. In September last year the World Council of Churches sent a team to see what common ground there was on both sides. Donald Yamamoto, assistant secretary of state for Africa, and one of America’s most experienced Africa hands, played a major role.

Diplomatic sources suggest he held talks in Washington at which both sides were represented. The Eritrean minister of foreign affairs, Osman Saleh, is said to have been present, accompanied by Yemane Gebreab, president Isaias’s long-standing adviser. They are said to have met the former Ethiopian prime minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, laying the groundwork for the deal. Yamamoto visited both Eritrea and Ethiopia in April.

Although next to nothing was announced following the visits, they are said to have been important in firming up the dialogue. But achieving reconciliation after so many years took more than American diplomatic muscle.

Eritrea’s Arab allies also played a key role. Shortly after the Yamamoto visit, Isaias paid a visit to Saudi Arabia. Ethiopia – aware of the trip – encouraged the Saudi crown prince to get the Eritrean president to pick up the phone and talk to him. Isaias declined, but – as Abiy Ahmed later explained – he was ‘hopeful with Saudi and US help the issue will be resolved soon’.

So it was, but one other actor played a part: the United Arab Emirates. Earlier this month Isaias visited the Emirates. There are suggestions that large sums of money were offered to help Eritrea develop its economy and infrastructure.

Finally, behind the scenes, the UN and the African Union have been encouraging both sides to resolve their differences. This culminated in the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, flying to Addis Ababa for a meeting on Monday – just hours after the joint declaration. Guterres told reporters that in his view the sanctions against Eritrea could soon be lifted since they would soon likely become ‘obsolete’.

It has been an impressive combined effort by the international community, who have for once acted in unison to try to resolve a regional issue that has festered for years.

For Isaias these developments also bring some element of risk. Peace would mean no longer having the excuse of a national security threat to postpone the implementation of basic freedoms. If the tens of thousands of conscripts, trapped in indefinite national service are allowed to go home, what jobs await them? When will the country have a working constitution, free elections, an independent media and judiciary? Many political prisoners have been jailed for years without trial. Will they now be released?

For Ethiopia, the dividends of peace would be a relaxation of tension along its northern border and an alternative route to the sea. Families on both sides of the border would be reunited and social life and religious ceremonies, many of which go back for centuries, could resume.

But the Tigrayan movement – the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) – that was dominant force in Ethiopian politics until the election of Abiy in February, has been sidelined. It was their quarrel with the Eritrean government that led to the 1998–2000 border war.

The Eritrean authorities have rejoiced in their demise. ‘From this day forward, TPLF as a political entity is dead,’ declared a semi-official website, describing the movement as a ‘zombie’ whose ‘soul has been bound in hell’. Such crowing is hardly appropriate if differences are to be resolved. The front is still a significant force in Ethiopia and could attempt to frustrate the peace deal.

There is no guarantee the whole edifice won’t collapse, as the details are worked out. There are many issues to be resolved before relations can be returned to normal. But with goodwill these can be overcome, ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity from which the entire region would benefit.


Martin Plaut is a senior research fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, School of Advanced Study, at the University of London; this article also appears at www.theconversation.com