End to state of war

Johannesburg: After declaring an end yesterday to a costly twodecade military stalemate, Ethiopia and Eritrea — one a rising African star, the other among the world’s most isolationist nations — appear poised to reap a lucrative peace dividend.

The dramatic announcement of an end to the ‘‘state of war’’ between the neighbours came yesterday at the climax of a twoday visit to Eritrea by Ethiopia’s reformminded Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has led the push for a pacifying of relations.

Eritrea, formerly a province of Ethiopia, waged a 30year war for independence and seceded in 1993. But relations soon soured and about 80,000 people died in a 19982000 war.

Abiy has promised to finally implement the peace accord that ended that conflict, a move that could allow both countries to rein in defence spending and redirect funds to areas with greater longterm benefits, such as schools or roads.