ADDIS ABABA (Halbeeg)- Ethiopian government will begin using the ports of neighboring Eritrea, its longtime sworn enemy, after the two leaders of East African nations agreed to bury the hatchet.
The Horn of Africa nations had remained at loggerheads since Ethiopia rejected a United Nations ruling and refused to cede to Eritrea land along the countries’ border following a 1998-2000 war.
Ethiopian ForiegnMinisrry spokesman, Mr. Meles Alem said the landlocked nation of 100 million people will soon use ports of Assab.
Mr. Alem noted that Ethiopia wants to make the re-opening of two roads connecting it to two of Eritrea’s Red Sea ports.
According to the spokesman, the reopening of two critical roads leading to the ports of Assab in Eritrea’s south and Massawa in the north would benefit the whole region.
“The unfolding developments will not only benefit our peoples, but the entire Horn of Africa region will be a part of these developments,” Mr. Alem said.
Eritrea which former Ethiopian province seceded in 1993 after decades of bloody conflict.
Relations deteriorated further with the outbreak of war between 1998-2000 claiming some 80,000 lives.
Resuming of ties began last month after reformist Dr. Abiy announced that Ethiopia would implement the UN-mediated Algiers peace agreement signed by the two countries in December 2000 to end the war. The premier said Addis would hand back disputed border territory.
The two countries have agreed to resume flights, develop sea ports and reopen link roads.
Discussion about this post