Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrea’s President Isaias Afwerki have both received a peace medal from the United Arab Emirates.
The two leaders have been awarded the Gulf nation’s highest honour, the Presidential Medal, the Zayed medal.
Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a border war from 1998 to 2000 that killed an estimated 70,000 people from both sides.
A peace accord dubbed the Algiers agreement was signed on December 12, 2000.
Despite the peace agreement a tense armed standoff ensued with the two countries engaging in clashes occasionally.
Abiy Ahmed and Isaias Afwerki both helped in resolving the conflict and recently restored diplomatic ties among their two countries.
The two men traveled to the UAE after the reconciliation this month.
The UAE is reported to have played an important role in bringing the two countries together.
Resumption of business ties
Ethiopian Airlines last week resumed operations to Eritrea. Pictures of the first flight to Eritrea’s capital Asmara were made public.
That was the first time in 20 years that an Ethiopian airline traveled to Eritrea after both nations declared an end to their “state of war”.
Reopening of Embassy
Eritrea also reopened its embassy in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa. That further deepened efforts at restoring peace between the two nations.
Both countries have also appointed ambassadors to serve in their sister countries.
