With all the border points connecting Ethiopia and Eritrea closed, preparation to fully utilize road transport services is finalized from the Ethiopian side. And experts call on both countries to expedite the legal prerequisites and institutionalize the rapprochement. Since the acclaimed normalization of ties, citizens of both countries have been crossing into each other’s country for visits and business deals.
Business activities in the border and far beyond have revived soon after. On July 9, 2018, leaders of the two countries agreed to resume road and air transport links after two decades of closures. Flights have been resumed shortly after the peace deal. And, now Ethiopian Ministry of Transport announced readiness to begin road transport services, there has been road upgrading and construction and other activities from Ethiopian side.
Customs authority also said it has finalized preparations of legal framework that regulates import-export trade between the two countries. Similarly, Eritrea also announced as it engaged in infrastructural improvements around ports and borders. Ethiopian Transport Minister Dagmawit Mogos told parliament recently that the Ministry is awaiting the decision of the two countries to launch actual activity.
“We’ve completed everything and are awaiting the decisions of the two countries.” Various protocols relating to activities expected from her ministry have been submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she underscored. Now, road and custom authorities are expecting green lights from the governments to launch actual operation, however, borders remain closed with no official statement coming from either side.
The closing of the border crossings have been done incrementally by Eritrea, starting on 28 December last year with Zalambessa crossing and the final closing of Humera, and Rama just some 10 days ago. No official statements have been made explaining this, but it was later informally explained it was due to road construction on the Eritrean side, and later the need to legalize the cross-border movement, Kjetil Tronvoll, (PhD), Director of Oslo Analytica, Professor of International Studies & Peace and Conflict Studies told The Ethiopian Herald.
Both countries have previously stressed the need to formalize trade and other activities in the border areas. Ethiopian government frequently announced the need to institutionalize the rapprochement. Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed for his part has multiple times explained the importance formalizing trade and other activities.
Seconding this view Tronvoll, who follows developments in the Horn of Africa says given the history of outbreak of war in 1998, it is paramount that the new bilateral relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia is properly institutionalized and made transparent to the citizens of both countries. But, as to any public knowledge, proper institutionalization and formalization of the bilateral relationship between the two states are lacking, beyond the “declaration of peace and friendship agreement” signed in Asmara in July last year.
Since the normalization, experts have stressed the need to strengthen people-topeople ties so that the peace process is put on strong foundation. “The opening up of the border was a great breakthrough. Families were reunited and people were back in to business. However, the relations between two sovereign countries must be based on principles.
The fact that the borders are closed does not come as surprise. Preconditions must be fulfilled if borders are to remain open and sustainable,” says Kahsay Gebrehiwot, a lecturer of Political Science and International Relations at Axum University. “Despite agreements at the top levels, people-to-people relations should receive the highest attention if relations between the two countries are to deepen.” Kahsay’s view is corroborated by Tronvoll.
He states that both sides should allow and encourage people-to-people reconciliation processes. Peace is secured at the grassroots, in parallel with the formal and legalized institutionalization between capitals. Hence, people-to-people contact across the border in Tigray and Afar states should be allowed and facilitated by both sides, in order to cultivate the peace process on the ground, according to Tronvoll.
According to the professor, the rapprochement is a “home-grown” process, not imposed from the outside. If the two governments manage to continue the negotiations without the involvement of a third party, that would be fine. However, apparently the negotiation process has stalled, since no formal agreement has yet been produced. and the multifaceted relations need institutionalization. “So far, the international community has played a minor role in facilitating the [Ethio-Eritrea] rapprochement, and that is good.
But, whether or not any outsider may manage to alleviate this stalling, is a different matter. As the situation stands, it may even be counterproductive for any outsiders to meddle into the process.” Of late, Tigray State President Dr. Debretsion Gebremeskel tells the press that matters with regard to Algiers agreement should be dealt and many other issues await the decision and discussion. He also said Tigray state remains committed to strengthen people to people ties with Eritrea.
To sustain the rapprochement and security as well as enhance economic issues, the relations should be formalized, Dr. Debretsion indicates. “We need to keep in mind that the Algiers Agreement is still the valid international law framework for the solution to the conflict, as long as the parties do not mutually agree to reject it,” says Tronvoll.
He also hints that Eritrea and Ethiopia may say that the Algiers Agreement is redundant, and both like to reach another solution on the border demarcation and other issue of concern. But he insists until that is happening, the UN and AU as guarantees to the agreement should be actively offering support to its implementation.
The very priority must be how to formalize relations and achieve sustainable peace process, according to Kahsay adding that it is worthwhile that both countries clearly and boldly define their relations. There are a host of issues which may derail the current rapprochement, internal as well as regional affairs and sometimes differences along party lines.
The Ethiopian Herald, May 10/2019
BY DESTA GEBREHIWOT
