Ethiopia’s new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, has pledged his readiness to resolve disputes with neighbor Eritrea during his first ever state address as prime minister.
(BBC Africa)–Ethiopia’s new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, has pledged his readiness to resolve disputes with neighbor Eritrea.
Speaking on state television after his swearing-in ceremony, Dr. Abiy Ahmed called for an end to “years of misunderstandings”.
“I call on the Eritrean government to take the same stand,” he said.
The two countries have had poor relations since a two-year border war, which claimed 70,000 lives.
Mr Ahmed was chosen to lead the ruling coalition after the unexpected resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in February. Mr. Hailemariam had served as Prime Minister from September 16, 2012 to February 15, 2018.
He is Ethiopia’s first Oromo leader – an ethnic group which has led anti-government protests for three decades.
Ethiopia’s new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, has pledged his readiness to resolve disputes with neighbor Eritrea.
Speaking on state television after his swearing-in ceremony, Mr Ahmed called for an end to “years of misunderstandings”.
“I call on the Eritrean government to take the same stand,” he said.
The two countries have had poor relations since a two-year border war, which claimed 70,000 lives.
Mr Ahmed was chosen to lead the ruling coalition after the unexpected resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in February.
He is Ethiopia’s first Oromo leader – an ethnic group which has led anti-government protests for three decades.
In the past, Dr. Abiy Ahmed served as Oromo Peoples’ Democratic Organization, head of Oromia Urban Housing and Development Bureau, Federal Minister of Science and Technology, and Director-General of the Federal Science and Technology Information Center.
The two countries fought a bloody two-year struggle between 1998 and 2000. Eritrea had previously fought a 30-year independence campaign against Ethiopia after its annexation in 1962.
Ethiopia still occupies land at the heart of the conflict, around the town of Badme.
Source: BBC Africa