Ethiopia PM Dr. Abiy Ahmed and Somalia President Mr. Mohamed Abdullahi have hammered out a resolution for the longstanding border dispute between Eritrea and Djibouti. Talks with President Isaias in Asmara on Wednesday were followed by a visit of the Foreign ministers of Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea to Djibouti in a round of shuttle diplomacy that bids fair to change the political paradigm of the Horn of Africa.
Eritrea and Djibouti have agreed to resolve their ten-year old dispute through peaceful dialogue and negotiation after the mediation of the Ethiopia PM and Somalia President: “It is a true example of an African Solution for an African problem.”
The agreement will have a significant impact on the geopolitical peace and stability of Horn of Africa, which Ethiopia champions for its impact on normalization. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, led the delegation to Djibouti under the theme of “Declaring the Peace Year in the Horn of Africa”. Eritrea’s Foreign Minister presented a message of peace from Eritrea’s President Isaias to the President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti. Djibouti’s President accepted the opportunity to dissolve their longstanding conflict and normalize the relationship with Eritrea.
Truly speaking, this offers a successful springboard for Ethiopia’s grand diplomacy for the benefit of the whole of East Africa. Earlier, of course, Ethiopia brought a close to its own chapter of conflict with Eritrea and then launched its efforts to resolve and mediate any remaining conflicts between its immediate neighbors. That was a milestone towards ensuring regional peace and will change the political landscape of Horn of Africa. As the Foreign Ministers of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia Foreign Affairs have confirmed in their joint Statement this is another major step in ensuring peace and stability and economic integration of the Horn of Africa and Africa at large.
Indeed, this peace agreement is another step in fulfilling the prophesy of Ethiopia’s Prime Minister: “if we neighboring countries cooperate together we can resolve our longstanding disputes and ensure the transition to peace and development in our region.” It is a real gift to celebrate the Ethiopian New Year next Tuesday.
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