Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia and President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea plan to meet in the near future as the two nations try to resolve their dispute and military stand-off. The news of a possible encounter was confirmed by the foreign ministry of Ethiopia via the state-run Fana Broadcasting Corporation,
On Tuesday, a high-level delegation from Eritrea arrived the capital Addis Ababa for the first time since the two countries plunged into a border dispute, shattering off diplomatic relations in 1998.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Abiy said he would honour the terms of the peace deal and hinting at the possibility of resolving the dispute along the border.
Both sides remain at odds over the status of the border town of Badme. The border separating the two countries remain heavily militarized as a result of a war which has killed some 80.000 people ever since.
A grenade attack at a rally on Saturday attended by the Prime Minister left two people dead. The hit has been blamed by the pro-government leaning media on opponents of proposed reforms by Abiy since taking office. Revamping the national carrier, privatization of the telecommunications sector, as well as a detente with Eritrea, are among some of the policy changes by the country’s new head-of-government.
Some two decades ago, Eritrea and Ethiopia have severed diplomatic relations, though Asmara maintained a permanent delegation in Addis Ababa to represent it at the African Union. The Ethiopian capital is the seat of the African Union headquarters.
Since 1998, no Eritrean representative have made an official trip to Ethiopia or the government for talks whatsoever.
Neba Benson,
BaretaNews Foreign Correspondent/Analyst
