Ethiopia and Eritrea leaders to reportedly meet soon
The leaders of arch-enemies Ethiopia and Eritrea will meet soon for the first time in nearly two decades, Ethiopian state media reported on 28 June.
Senior Eritrean officials arrived in Ethiopia earlier in the week of 25 June in the first official visit between the two nations since a 1998-2000 border war left relations in tatters.
The state-affiliated Fana Broadcast Corporate said: ‘Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki will meet soon.’
The diplomatic thaw comes in response to an olive branch extended by Abiy.
The premier announced earlier in June 2018 that Ethiopia would cede territory it has continued to occupy despite a UN-backed boundary commission ruling in 2002 that the land belonged to Eritrea.
Eritrea has used what it calls Ethiopia’s illegal occupation to freeze relations with Addis Ababa. The tensions have also been used to justify repressive domestic policies including an indefinite national service programme that the UN says amounts to slavery.
A one-time province of Ethiopia that comprised its entire coastline, Eritrea voted for independence in 1993 after a decades-long conflict, but the two countries went to war five years later over the demarcation of their border.
The 1998-2000 conflict killed more than 80,000 people and led to a lengthy cold war between the two closely-related nations.
You may also like
More from Defence Notes
-
![Global Ordnance and Sparkz disclose plans for 500,000 US-made UAV batteries a year]()
Global Ordnance and Sparkz disclose plans for 500,000 US-made UAV batteries a year
The companies have outlined plans for US$25 million manufacturing lines and initial deliveries in 2027 as Washington tightens restrictions on Chinese UAV components.
-
![Patria OPTIME and ILIAS: Orchestrating operational readiness across every domain]()
Patria OPTIME and ILIAS: Orchestrating operational readiness across every domain
Patria OPTIME is a sustainment concept that integrates MRO and lifecycle services into one solution, powered by the ILIAS digital defence platform
-
![US military seeks common controllers for drones and robotic systems]()
US military seeks common controllers for drones and robotic systems
US Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Special Operations Command initiatives signal demand for interoperable uncrewed systems control, creating opportunities for suppliers of hardware, software and integration services.
-
![“Start planning much earlier”: delivering defence support in an era of disruption]()
“Start planning much earlier”: delivering defence support in an era of disruption
In Conversation… The geopolitical landscape is increasingly uncertain, with the UK and its allies confronting the most unpredictable international environment for decades. To adapt, defence readiness must begin long before assets reach the front line, forging a resilient support enterprise that can thrive in a time of ongoing disruption, argue the partners of Team ORION.
-
![“Communicating at mission speed”: why data security is essential for operational success]()
“Communicating at mission speed”: why data security is essential for operational success
In conversation… Everfox’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dave Wajsgras and Managing Director, International, Colin McKinty discuss the critical importance of information security in defence, minimising insider risk and the company’s international growth strategy with Shephard’s Andrew White.
-
![“Engage with the operational problem”: how software innovation can boost UK defence]()
“Engage with the operational problem”: how software innovation can boost UK defence
In Conversation… Shephard’s Andrew White talks to Zafer Şen, CEO and co-founder of OBSS, about the future of command-and-control software in the age of artificial intelligence, and his company’s ambitions in the UK defence market.
