In June 2018, Ethiopia and Eritrea moved from a long “no war, no peace” stalemate toward open diplomacy for the first time in about twenty years. After Ethiopia’s new leadership signaled acceptance of the Algiers/EEBC framework on the border, Asmara and Addis Ababa began high-level contacts that regional commentators called historic.
Deutsche Welle and other outlets described the talks as a thaw between neighbors that had fought a devastating 1998–2000 war and then spent years militarized along the frontier. The breakthrough was tied to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s early reform period and Eritrea’s decision to engage.
The episode still matters as a reference point for Horn diplomacy: it showed how quickly frozen conflicts can reopen politically, and how fragile the follow-through on borders, trade, and security cooperation can be once the cameras leave.
Sources: Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera background
