ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA—Taking the next step in their dramatic diplomatic thaw, the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea on Tuesday officially opened the border where a bloody war divided them for decades, with emotional residents embracing after years of separation. Eritrea’s President Isaias Afwerki, right, is welcomed in July by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, centre, for his first visit in 22 years. Tuesday marks the diplomatic thawing between both countries as they officially opened their border. Landlocked Ethiopia, one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, and Eritrea, one of the world’s most closed-off nations, also plan development co-operation around Eritrea’s Red Sea ports in particular. Eritrea has used the Gregorian calendar since it gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993.

Source: thestar September 11, 2018 15:45 UTC