Young Eritrean Diaspora Hoping for Better Prospect in Ethio-Eritrea Relation

Addis Ababa July 25/2018 Young Eritreans in the Diaspora are hoping for better prospect between Ethiopia and Eritrea following the recent rapprochement between the two countries. The Eritreans have pinned all their hopes on the peace accord recently inked between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Isaias Afewerki to end the two decade Ethio-Eritrea border stalemate. The young Eritrean Diasporas told ENA that words can never be sufficient enough to express how they were feeling when the leaders signed the Asmara Declaration, ending the state of war between the two countries. Yabela Mehari, only 12, was on the first Ethiopian Airlines direct flight from Addis Ababa to Asmara after two decades said the peace accord offered both for Ethiopians and Eritreans a glimmer of hope and enthusiasm for reunion. She said the resumption of direct flight from Addis Ababa to Asmara heralds a new era in the relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which can bring bright future for better cooperation in all spheres. "For 20 years we Eritreans have not used Ethiopian Airlines which show the complication due the border war but now we are getting closer, so we are going to cooperate more and people are going to Ethiopia and Eritrea easily," she said. Fistum Hadigu, who came to Asmara for summer holiday with his families from London, said after 20 years of impasse Ethiopia and Eritrea heralded a new chapter for their people. He said, “I have many Ethiopian friends in England, they are all so happy and excited because of the prevailing peace between the two neighboring countries,” Luwam Hiruy, an Eritrean youngster residing in Sweden, expressed her excitement after the formal end of border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea early on July. "I am excited to have heard about all these news, I am so happy finally peace is happening, I'm super happy about that" she said adding that "other countries can learn a lot from the recent peace accord between Ethiopia and Eritrea." She said, "The rest of the world should study the rapprochement and cooperation Ethiopia and Eritrea has formed to the best interest of their people in particular and to the region in general." Aman Yonas, 12 from Washington D.C, is another Eritrean who took the Ethiopian Airlines flight to Eritrea. “I think it’s good that they are making peace, there is no fighting and it’s really meaningful for both Ethiopian and Eritrean people; it makes me joyful because there is no war, we can have more friends and this can help us to avoid war,” he said. Likewise, Alexander Epherem who resides in Norway pointed out that many of his Eritrean friends are awaiting the restoration of peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea to visit Addis Ababa. He also expressed his contentment on the reinstatement of peace between the two countries. “I was in Asmara when Ethiopia and Eritrea reconciled, but my friends in Norway told me that they are gonna crazy as they are so happy,” Alexander said. The exhilaration, hopes and aspirations of limitless optimism of these young Eritreans depicts a new future for Ethiopian and Eretria youth as builders of their respective countries. The road to rapprochement was painful but the future is undoubtedly bright.