Ethiopia/Eritrea: Flights between ADD and ASM to resume July 18 /update 1

Event

Ethiopian Airlines announced it would resume daily flights between Ethiopia's Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) and Asmara International Airport (ASM) in Eritrea starting on Wednesday, July 18. The decision was announced by Ethiopian Airlines following the formal restoration of diplomatic ties between the two countries at a summit in Asmara on July 9.

Context

On July 9, Ethiopian Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki signed a "joint declaration of peace and friendship" at a summit in Asmara (Eritrea's capital), signaling a historic rapprochement between the two countries, and pledged to work toward increasing transnational cooperation. Promised changes included the reopening of embassies, access to ports, restoration of commercial flight connections, and implementation of the UN-brokered border agreement. Telecommunications between the two countries, blocked for over two decades, have already been reestablished.

A United Nations peacekeeping force has been deployed along the Ethiopia-Eritrea border since 1998, when a border conflict broke out between the two countries. Tens of thousands of people died during the 1998-2000 conflict. Although a peace treaty was signed in 2000, tensions have remained high at the border in the intervening years and periodic border clashes continued to occur. 

Advice

Travelers are advised to take note of the information above and to contact the airline directly for more information. More generally, individuals in Ethiopia or Eritrea are advised to monitor developments to the local situation, to remain vigilant at all times, and to avoid any form of public demonstration or public gathering due to the risk of violence. Adhere to all instructions issued by authorities and respect all local laws. Despite the recent thaw in diplomatic relations, the Eritrea-Ethiopia border should continue to be avoided due to ongoing security concerns at the historically tense frontier.