Diplomatic relations restored between Ethiopia and Eritrea

After a 20-year border war, Ethiopia and Eritrea agreed on Sunday to a peace deal that opens the border between the countries and restores diplomatic relations.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki in the Eritrean capital of Asmara, and the pair hugged in front of a crowd of thousands. Following a private meeting, Abiy announced that the two leaders "agreed to open up embassies in our respective countries, allow our people to visit each other's cities, and allow our airlines and ports to operate freely." Telephone connection between the countries was also restored on Sunday for the first time in two decades.

Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, but after just five years, the country began fighting with Ethiopia for control of several remote border areas; tens of thousands of people have been killed. There was a border commission ruling in 2002 that gave disputed territories to Eritrea, but Ethiopia did not accept this decision.

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