Somalia, Eritrea agree to establish diplomatic ties

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Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi and his Eritrean counterpart Isaias Afwerki agreed to establish diplomatic ties on Monday after over a decade of animosity, according to a joint declaration.

"The two countries will establish diplomatic relations and exchange ambassadors," said the document entitled "Joint Declaration On Brotherly Relations and Comprehensive Cooperation."

Mohamed's three-day visit to the Eritrean capital Asmara coincides with an extraordinary peace process between Eritrea and Ethiopia — part of dizzying change in a region burdened by war, proxy conflicts, and isolation.

Eritrea and Ethiopia had been locked in a no-war-no-peace state for two decades since the two fought a bloody war over a border issue between 1998 and 2000.

In a surprise move in early June, Ethiopia's new reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that he would finally accept a 2002 United Nations-backed border demarcation, starting whirlwind-like movements of political rapprochement between the two countries.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (L) and President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea (R) celebrate the reopening of the Embassy of Eritrea in Ethiopia following the official visit after twenty years, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, July 13, 2018. /VCG Photo

Infographic: Delayed detente achieved between Eritrea and Ethiopia

Somalia and Eritrea used to be close, but fell out over a decade ago as Asmara stood accused of backing Islamist militants on Somali soil in a proxy war with Ethiopia.

Eritrea long denied this, but was slapped with UN sanctions over its alleged backing of Al-Shabaab in 2009.

Ethiopia has already formally requested that these sanctions be lifted against Eritrea.

"Eritrea strongly supports the political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia as well as the efforts of the people and government of Somalia to restore the country's rightful stature and achieve the lofty aspirations of its people," read the declaration.

The document, posted on Eritrea's information ministry website, also said the two nations "will endeavor to forge intimate political, economic, social, cultural as well as defense and security cooperation."

They will in addition "work in unison to foster regional peace, stability and economic integration."

(With input from AFP)