New Ethiopia-Eritrea relations to help bring stability to Horn of Africa, UAE's foreign minister says

Ethiopia's new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met President Isaias Afwerki on Sunday in scenes regarded as unthinkable just months ago

Sheikh Abdullah welcomed the diplomatic developments between Ethiopia and Eritrea / WAM

The UAE's foreign minister has said the re-establishing of diplomatic ties between Ethiopia and Eritrea will bring security and stability to their two countries.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, also said the relations would benefit the "Horn of Africa in general".

He welcomed the historic step taken by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki, adding that this move represents great political wisdom and courage, national news agency Wam reported.

"The UAE supports sound international relations that seek to promote peace and prosperity, with respect for international law," he said.

"The UAE will support the two countries based on these foundational principles for the interest of the two countries, their peoples, and the region as a whole.

"The UAE congratulates Ethiopia and Eritrea on this historic agreement, and hopes that this move will open further opportunities and development across economic, cultural and social sectors between the two nations."

Ethiopia's reformist new leader Mr Ahmed arrived in Eritrea's capital on Sunday and a live broadcast by Eritrean state television showed President Isaias Afwerki greeting him at the airport.

While Ethiopia is Africa's second-most populous nation, with more than 100 million people, and one of the world's fastest-growing economies, tiny Eritrea, with 5 million people, is one of the world's most closed-off nations, ruled by Mr Afwerki since gaining independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after years of rebel warfare. But the two countries share close cultural ties.

_______________

Read more:

Leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea meet after decades of war