Ethio-Eritrea rapprochement has been one of the groundbreaking developments unfolded in the Horn of Africa in 2018. The reconciliation between the two countries has opened a new window of regional cooperation and amicability among the two important countries breaking 20 years of deadlock and no peace no war scenario.
The long strained relation between the sisterly countries had done huge damage to the socio-economic and political cooperation in the volatile region. The years of confrontation definitely weakened the strategic yet poor region with imminent risk of destabilizations. However, the change brought in Ethiopian political landscape and the goodwill of the reform leadership had turned the two decades of animosity into fraternity without external hands. Finally, Ethiopians and Eritreans have been finally reunited to only rekindle hope of common growth and peaceful coexistence.
The rapprochement has led to dramatic change and increased optimism between the two peoples including ordinary Ethiopians and Eritreans, there have been high-level exchanges of visits between the two countries and flights, communications channels have been resumed since. Both Ethiopians and Eritreans have been traveling to the respective countries in large scale following the peace deal.
Following the normalization, both countries have been engaged in repairing and rebuilding infrastructural facilities to formalize trade and mobility. The opening up of the border was a great breakthrough. Families were reunited and people were back in to business. However, TPLF clique has long been working to conspire against the peace deal. This has had its own impact to fully unleash the countries’ potential for cooperation.
Now that the cliques have been eliminated due to its self-inflicted harm and years of belligerence and stubbornness that ended up with an attack on the northern command of Ethiopian Defense Forces, Horn Africa has awaken to a fresh start. The removal of the clique in fact heralds new era of cooperation in the Horn. The post TPLF time, is a crucial time, where countries change political conspiracies with genuine diplomacies and divisiveness with oneness. For sure, not only Ethiopia and Eritrea but also the entire region has rosy future ahead to formalize and elevate the growing relation without any hindrance.
However, despite the progress made, Ethiopia and Eritrea are yet to fully monetize the relations. To sustain the rapprochement and ensure security as well as enhance economic issues, the relations should be formalized. Strengthening people-to-people ties so that the peace process is must to put on strong foundation. The relations between two sovereign countries must be based on principles. There has been road upgrading and construction and other activities from both sides. Preparations of legal framework that regulates import-export trade between the two countries should be finalized soon. Both countries need to also expedite the legal prerequisites and institutionalize the rapprochement.
The Ethiopian herald February 19/2021
