Ethiopia-Eritrea leaders awarded for peace deal in Jeddah

JEDDAH (Halbeeg News) – Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki have been awarded medals by Saudi King.

According to Fitsuma Arega, chief of staff at office Ethiopian PM, Saudi’s highest award, was conferred on both leaders in recognition of their work for peace between the two nations.

“HRH King Salman in the presence of HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman & UN SG H.E. Antonio Guterres has awarded the highest medal in the Kingdom to H.E. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and H.E. President Isaias Afeworki for bringing peace between the two countries,” Arega said.

HRH King Salman in the presence of HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman & UN SG H.E. Antonio Guterres has awarded the highest medal in the Kingdom to H.E. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and H.E. President Isaias Afeworki for bringing peace between the two countries. #Ethiopia #Eritrea pic.twitter.com/JSeo2On7Pz

— Fitsum Arega (@fitsumaregaa) September 16, 2018

The two leaders arrived in Jeddah On Saturday to attend a summit in Saudi Arabia to sign a peace agreement in the context of normalization of relations.

The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, and the President of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, will also attend.

Ahmed and Afwerki signed a peace declaration in July that formally ended a two-decade confrontation and restored diplomatic ties.

last week, land border crossings were reopened for the first time in 20 years, paving the way for trade between the two countries.