Celebrating their dramatic diplomatic thaw, the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea on Tuesday officially opened the border where a bloody war and ensuing tensions had divided them for decades, with emotional residents embracing after years of separation. The two opened the border post "for road transport connectivity" and later were doing the same at the Serha-Zalambesa crossing, Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Meskel said on Twitter. Television footage showed people of the countries' Tigray region, who share close cultural ties, dancing while flag-draped camels wandered by. Reports on social media on Monday indicated that mine-clearing activities were underway in one border area, signaling that an opening was planned. The Ethiopian new year has roots in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and is related to the Julian calendar.

Source: Ethiopian News September 11, 2018 08:15 UTC