Reunions in Ethiopia and Eritrea (in Photos)

Emily Moon
July 21, 2018
Since the countries’ leaders signed a peace agreement on July 9th, Ethiopia and Eritrea have withdrawn troops and re-opened travel.
Eritrean women hold up their nation's flag on July 18th, 2018, to welcome passengers on the flight from Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa at Asmara International Airport.

After two decades of conflict, Ethiopia and Eritrea have reconciled, making way for Ethiopians to begin reuniting with relatives in Eritrea this week.

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed a peace agreement with President Isaias Afwerki on July 9th, easing tensions that began with a border dispute that has persisted since the deadly 1998–2000 war. This week, Ahmed visited the newly re-opened embassy in Eritrea, a former province of Ethiopia that gained independence in 1993. Meanwhile, the Eritrean press agency said Thursday that the government withdrew troops from the border in a “gesture of reconciliation,” Al Jazeera reports.

On an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Eritrea—the first since the two nations ceased road and air travel—passengers received champagne and roses, and sang and danced in the aisles, BBC News reports. Here are scenes of reunion and celebration from across the two nations.

Eritrean women hold up their nation's flag on July 18th, 2018, to welcome passengers on the flight from Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa at Asmara International Airport.
Eritrean women hold up their nation’s flag on July 18th, 2018, to welcome passengers on the flight from Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa at Asmara International Airport.

(Photo: Michael Tewelde/AFP/Getty Images)

Azmera Addisalem and Danait Addisalem greet their father, an Ethiopian journalist, for the first time in 20 years, upon his arrival at the Asmara International Airport on July 18th, 2018.
Azmera Addisalem and Danait Addisalem greet their father, an Ethiopian journalist, for the first time in 20 years, upon his arrival at the Asmara International Airport on July 18th, 2018.

(Photo: Michael Tewelde/AFP/Getty Images)

Ethiopian Airlines crew welcome passengers onboard the first commercial flight departing from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Eritrea's capital of Asmara on July 18th, 2018.
Ethiopian Airlines crew welcome passengers onboard the first commercial flight departing from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Eritrea’s capital of Asmara on July 18th, 2018.

(Photo: Maheder Haileselassie Tadese/AFP/Getty Images)

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki celebrate the re-opening of the Eritrean embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 16th, 2018.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki celebrate the re-opening of the Eritrean embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 16th, 2018.

(Photo: Michael Tewelde/AFP/Getty Images)

Women wave Ethiopian flags to celebrate the arrival of the Eritrean president in Addis Ababa on July 14th, 2018. President Isaias Afwerki arrived in Ethiopia for a historic visit to cement peace less than a week after the two nations declared an end to a two-decade conflict.
Women wave Ethiopian flags to celebrate the arrival of the Eritrean president in Addis Ababa on July 14th, 2018. President Isaias Afwerki arrived in Ethiopia for a historic visit to cement peace less than a week after the two nations declared an end to a two-decade conflict.

(Photo: Stringer/AFP/Getty Images)

Crowds await the arrival of the Eritrean president in Addis Ababa on July 14th, 2018.
Crowds await the arrival of the Eritrean president in Addis Ababa on July 14th, 2018.

(Photo: Stringer/AFP/Getty Images)

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