Addis Ababa - Two land border crossings between Ethiopia and Eritrea were reopened yesterday for the first time in 20 years, crowning a rapid reconciliation between the former bitter enemies. Fitsum Arega, Abiy's chief of staff, said: "Road links between Ethiopia and Eritrea will be operational, opening the gate for cross border movement of people and goods." Soldiers lined the red-carpeted road to mark its reopening and crowds cheered and hugged each other. The once-bustling commercial town, on what was the main highway between Addis Ababa and Asmara, was all but levelled during the 1998-2000 border war that killed about 80,000 people. Once a province of Ethiopia, Eritrea fought a long independence war, eventually seceding in 1993, but five years later conflict broke out again.

Source: Philippine Star September 11, 2018 17:37 UTC