Ethiopia-Eritrea border reopened on September 11, 2018 for the first time in more than 20 years. The opening follows a historic peace deal between the two nations.
The key border points between and Eritrea reopened 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. Also, military heads and personnel were present.
The Burre frontier was the location of some of the fiercest battle zone in the 1998-2000 war.
The two leaders opened the Serha-Zalambesa border in a second ceremony, broadcasted live 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, aided by the UAE, in which phone lines were reconnected and planes flew between the two countries for the first time in decades.
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