July 30, 2018
Aljazeera.com
The move comes weeks after Eritrea and Ethiopia signed an historic peace
deal, establishing relations between the two.
[image: image.png]
Isaias, left, and Mohamed, right, said the two countries will restore
diplomatic ties and exchange ambassadors [AFP]
The presidents of Eritrea
<https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/eritrea.html> and Somalia
<https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/somalia.html> have signed an
agreement to restore their countries' relations after years of animosity.
Yemane Meskel, Eritrea's information minister, shared a joint statement on
Twitter as Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed concluded an
historic three-day visit to Eritrea. The countries have not had diplomatic
ties for nearly 15 years.
"The two countries will establish diplomatic relations and exchange
ambassadors," read a "joint declaration on brotherly relations" signed in
the capital, Asmara, by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki
<https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/people/isaias-afwerki.html> and Mohamed.
After signing the agreement, Somali president called for the lifting of
sanctions on Eritrea, imposed over the country's alleged support for the
al-Shabab <https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/organisations/al-shabab.html> armed
group in Somalia.
"We urge all economic sanctions and embargo imposed on the people of
Eritrea must be lifted so that the economic integration of the Horn of
Africa region can be realised," Mohamed said.
*Yemane G. Meskel* @*hawelti* <https://twitter.com/hawelti>
FollowFollow @*hawelti*
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President Isaias Afwerki and President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed today
signed in Asmara the "Eritrea-Somalia Joint Declaration on Brotherly
Relations and Comprehensive Cooperation"; http://www.
shabait.com/news/local-news/26772-eritrea-somalia-joint-declaration …
<https://t.co/Zf3dK5yBSg>
2:38 AM - 30 Jul 2018
- *97* Retweets
- *146* Likes
- [image: Halhale] <https://twitter.com/Halhale7>[image: Amb. Idd B.
Mohamed] <https://twitter.com/amb_idd>[image: Selay]
<https://twitter.com/knwldgeispower>[image: T.Chong(RW) Supporter]
<https://twitter.com/aizana24>[image: صومالي وافتخر 🇸🇴]
<https://twitter.com/QMormyJZMEn9ilH>[image: God Bless Eritrea.]
<https://twitter.com/haleluowen>[image: Ollaef rezene]
<https://twitter.com/ollaef>[image: Mino³² 🇨☄🇾]
<https://twitter.com/MuhammadMonir2>[image: Ga'@ Ms Ruguo]
<https://twitter.com/HadeMeadi>
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Matt Bryden, chairman of Sahan, a think-tank covering the Horn of Africa,
described Monday's development as good news.
OPINION <https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/>Why the
Eritrea-Ethiopia peace is good for African politics
<https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/eritrea-ethiopia-peace-good-news-africa-180711081433471.html>
[image: Nanjala Nyabola]
<https://www.aljazeera.com/profile/nanjala-nyabola.html>
by Nanjala Nyabola <https://www.aljazeera.com/profile/nanjala-nyabola.html>
"Eritrea and Ethiopia have had poor relations because of Eritrea's support
for groups like al-Shabab and other opposition groups in Somalia," Bryden
told Al Jazeera.
"That support has diminished in recent years, and there really hasn't been
a confrontation between the two governments," he said.
"It's a thawing of relationships, but it's not as direct or as important as
the Ethiopian-Eritrean truce."
That peace deal was signed
<https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/07/ethiopia-eritrea-sign-declaration-peace-friendship-180709101214478.html>
earlier this month, when Ethiopia and Eritrea declared their "state of
war" over, ending a decades-long frozen conflict over border disputes that
hurt both countries.
"The region has been destroyed by ethnic and clan cleavage and external
pillage and internal thievery," Isaias said on Monday, referring to the
deals.
"But this epoch of crises, conflict and instability is not inherently
sustainable," he added. "As such, it is nearing its end. We are indeed
entering a new, transitional, phase."
However, Bryden said it still remains to be seen what will actually change
in the wake of Monday's agreement.
"Eritrea has been in a state of virtual isolation for two decades and
Somalia is rebuilding after two and a half decades of horrific civil war
and still faces a widespread insurgency by al-Shabab," he said.
"Neither country is in a position to help the other."
READ MORE
Eritrea appoints first ambassador to Ethiopia in 20 years
<https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/07/eritrea-appoints-ambassador-ethiopia-20-years-180721114224795.html>
Bryden believes the rapprochement between the two countries could partially
be an attempt to attract foreign investors.
"Some of this is public diplomacy to show the region, one another and
international partners, that the Horn of Africa is more stable, that its
leaders are less polarised and becoming more pragmatic and open," he said.
Bryden also raised the issue of the political relationship Eritrea,
Ethiopia and Somalia have with Gulf countries.
"Eritrea and Ethiopia both have fairly close ties with the United Arab
Emirates and Eritrea hosts a UAE military base which is actively involved
in the conflict in Yemen."
Somalia, on the other hand, has a very poor relationship with the UAE
<https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/united-arab-emirates.html>,
according to Bryden.
"Mogadishu is more closely aligned with Qatar
<https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/qatar.html>, so it's not clear
how Somalia is going to walk this tightrope between these two camps and
where it's going to take Somalia next."
Ethiopia, which is undergoing lightning reforms under new Prime Minister
Abiy Ahmed, has also requested that sanctions be lifted against Eritrea.
After Ethiopia's peace agreement with Eritrea, its other neighbour and rival
Djibouti <https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/djibouti.html>asked the
UN Security Council for help mediating a long-standing border dispute that
has soured relations with Asmara.
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES
--
Ann Marie
"The art of living consists of knowing what to pay attention to and what to
ignore." -- Mardy Grothe
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