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Ethiopian, Eritrean leaders at concert for diplomatic thaw

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia -- At least 25,000 Ethiopians are at a concert where new, reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrea's President Isaias Afweki are expected to celebrate the new friendship between their neighboring countries.

 

The concert on Sunday highlights the end of years of hostility between the two arch-foes in East Africa, who fought a bloody border war from 1998 to 2000. The antagonism ended last month when Ethiopia accepted a peace deal originally signed in 2000.

 

Eritrea's longtime leader arrived in Ethiopia on Saturday, his first visit in 22 years. Isaias is reciprocating the Ethiopian leader's trip to Eritrea last Sunday. Isaias was greeted by Ethiopia's Abiy in a red carpet welcome. People danced at the airport when Isaias arrived and Addis Ababa residents lined main streets to see Isaias' motorcade.

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.15.18, 19:40