Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has arrived in Addis Ababa this morning for a 2-day visit. He was received at Bole International Airport by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other senior Ethiopian government officials.
There has not been any official statement explaining details of the unpublicized visit.
On the invitation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, President Isaias Afwerki departed to Ethiopia this morning for a two-day working visit. The two leaders will discuss progress of the Peace Agreement signed between the two countries on July 9 & other developments of mutual interest pic.twitter.com/SoohMFyiBt
— Yemane G. Meskel (@hawelti) October 14, 2018
HE Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed receives and welcomes HE President Isaias Afeworki of #Eritera at Bole International Airport. President Isaias is in #Ethiopia for two days visit. After the peace agreement, the two countries have further deepened their relations in all fronts. pic.twitter.com/GIZ8sFR2sY
— Fitsum Arega (@fitsumaregaa) October 14, 2018
Eritrea is currently facing an exodus of its people to Ethiopia. It is reported that over 300 Eritrean refugees arrive daily at U.N.-operated refugee camps in Tigray. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ethiopian authorities have counted more than 6,700 new arrivals since the September opening of the border. It appears that for many Eritreans the recent peace with Ethiopia and opening of the border meant the possibility of escaping from their country.
Unless Isaias undertakes serious reform, similar to what is currently going on in Ethiopia, Eritrea could implode.
The normalization of relations with Ethiopia over the past 4 months has fueled hopes that Isaias may abandon some of the policies behind the exodus. But there has been practically no major reform in Eritrea since the peace agreement.
