Following the United Nations Security Council decision on Wednesday, which ended the sanction on Eritrea, leaders express their happiness with the decision.
“Ethiopia congratulates the people and Government of the State of Eritrea on the lifting of sanctions,” twitted the Prime Minister Office of Ethiopia.
The UN imposed the sanction on Eritrea in December 2009 claiming that the country has supported the terrorist group Al Shabaab, which has been operating in the Horn of Africa with its base in Somalia.
“Yesterday’s decision is a further step towards the consolidation of the recent positive developments in the Horn of Africa, marked by an improvement of bilateral relations between the countries of the region,” said Moussa Faki Mahamat, Africa Union Commission Chairperson. He further stated that the decision also shows the renewed determination to promote good neighborliness and foster regional cooperation.
The sanction lifted includes an arms embargo on Eritrea, travel bans on its leaders, and froze the assets of some of the country’s political and military officials.
”The Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution lifting the unjustified sanction against Eritrea, marking an end a decade long injustice. A result of resilience of the people of Eritrea,” twitted the Eritrea at the UN.
Last year when the UN delegates came to Addis Ababa to check if Ethiopia’s stand on Eritrea, the country responded that the regime in Eritrea has not been changed and the sanction should continue.
Meanwhile after the reformist Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power last April, the two east African countries have restored peaceful relations ending close to two decades of hostility.
“We welcome the arms and other targeted embargoes on Eritrea been lifted with our collective request. Thanks to the UN Security Council for this helpful and timely intervention. The Horn of Africa region is swiftly progressing towards partnership and economic cooperation,” President Mohamed Farmaajo of Somalia twitted, following the UN decision.
After the restoration of peace between the two countries the heads of states of both countries have visited each other, while President Isaias Afwerki has visited Ethiopia couple of times.
Since then Eritrea has also been working to end conflict with its tiny neighbor – Djibouti. The leaders of Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia have also met last week in Ethiopia to assess the progress of the agreement they made a few months ago.