Ethiopia 'accepts peace deal' to end Eritrea border occupation

Eritrean troops in 2000

Ethiopia 'accepts peace deal' to end Eritrea border war

By BBCAfrica

Ethiopia says it will fully accept the outcome of a border commission, ending a dispute with Eritrea that sparked Africa's deadliest border war in 1998.

The ruling EPRDF coalition says the decision was taken in an effort to make peace with neighbouring Eritrea.

Tens of thousands of people were killed in two years of fighting.

The two sides have remained on a war footing as Ethiopia refused to accept the ruling of the border commission set up as part of a peace deal in 2000.

The commission said that some disputed areas, including the border town of Badme, were in Eritrea.

As a result, Ethiopia refused to withdrawn its troops out of the disputed areas.

This led Eritrea to accuse Ethiopia of forcefully occupying its territory.

Eritrea has refused to hold any talks with Ethiopia until it agrees unconditionally to the border commission's findings.

Ethiopia's new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed promised to make peace with the country's northern neighbour after taking power earlier this year.

BBC World Service Africa editor Will Ross says if Ethiopia does now remove soldiers from the disputed land it would show it is serious about seeking peace.

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By Madote

Reuters correspondent Aaron Maasho says Ethiopia will fully "accept and implement" the EEBC  ruling. This will be huge if implemented, as that would remove the last obstacle to begin dialogue for a lasting peace and the normalization of relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Ethiopia will “fully accept and implement” a peace agreement with Eritrea that was signed in 2000 and a subsequent boundary commission ruling that handed the flashpoint town of Badme to Asmara, its ruling coalition said

— Aaron Maasho (@AaronMG) June 5, 2018

Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel tells Reuters he will not comment as he has not seen the statement from the ruling EPRDF coalition that Ethiopia will “fully accept, implement” the Algiers accord and a subsequent international boundary ruling over Badme

— Aaron Maasho (@AaronMG) June 5, 2018

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