Peace visit by Ethiopia leader

THE leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea embraced and laughed as they met for the first time in two decades at the weekend amid a rapid and dramatic diplomatic thaw aimed at ending one of Africa’s longest-running conflicts.

Ethiopia’s new prime minister Abiy Ahmed arrived in Eritrea’s capital Asmara and a broadcast showed President Isaias Afwerki greeting him.

The visit comes a month after Mr Abiy surprised people by fully accepting a peace deal to end a two-year border war between the two nations.