After gaining independence in 1993, Eritrea and Ethiopia initially lived in a period of peace with close friendship and cooperation. Both countries had fought together to defeat Ethiopia’s former military regime, and their new leaders — President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia — shared revolutionary backgrounds and a vision for regional development. However, beneath the surface, tensions over trade, currency, and border demarcation began to grow. Disagreements over the exact location of their 1,000-kilometer border, particularly the small, dusty town of Badme, soon turned into a major diplomatic dispute. What started as a local clash between border patrols in May 1998 quickly escalated into a full-scale war between two former allies. This formed the historic Ethiopia-Eritrea war.
The Ethiopia–Eritrea War (1998–2000) became one of the deadliest interstate conflicts in modern African history, claiming an estimated 70,000 to 100,000 lives. Both sides mobilized large armies and used heavy artillery and air power. Civilians suffered the most, as thousands were displaced and cross-border communities were torn apart. The war also devastated both economies, diverting resources from development to defense. International organizations and regional mediators intervened in an attempt to halt the fighting. After two years of fierce battles, the Algiers Agreement was signed in December 2000, officially ending the war. The peace deal established the Eritrea–Ethiopia Boundary Commission (EEBC), which was tasked with determining the exact border line based on colonial treaties and international law.
In 2002, the Commission issued its verdict — awarding the contested town of Badme to Eritrea. However, Ethiopia rejected the decision, arguing that the ruling was unfair and impractical. This disagreement left the two nations locked in a tense standoff for nearly two decades. The “no war, no peace” situation that followed became a defining feature of Ethiopia–Eritrea relations throughout the early 2000s. While no major battles took place after 2000, both governments continued to mistrust each other deeply. Eritrea accused Ethiopia of occupying its territory illegally.The prolonged stalemate had serious humanitarian and economic costs. Families living on both sides of the border were separated for years, trade routes were shut down, and thousands of soldiers remained stationed along the frontier in harsh desert conditions.
This period of hostility not only shaped the internal politics of both nations but also influenced regional dynamics. It strained relations within the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and contributed to ongoing insecurity in neighboring states like Sudan and Somalia.
The peace agreement of 2018 brought hope and some peace, but the relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea soon faced new challenges that tested its strength. While the initial reconciliation had ended two decades of open hostility, both countries soon found themselves entangled in another crisis, the Tigray conflict, which broke out in November 2020 in northern Ethiopia.
The conflict began when tensions escalated between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the same political group that had once dominated Ethiopia’s ruling coalition and played a key role in Eritrea’s independence struggle. As fighting erupted, Eritrea entered the conflict in support of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government. Eritrean troops crossed the border and joined Ethiopian forces in their campaign against the TPLF.
This unexpected alliance showed how shifting political interests could reshape regional dynamics. For Eritrea, the war was seen as a chance to weaken its long-time rival, the TPLF. For Ethiopia, Eritrea’s involvement provided additional military support in a complex and fast-moving conflict. However, the joint offensive came at a heavy human cost. Reports by international organizations and human rights groups accused all sides of serious violations such as civilian killings, displacement, and destruction of property. The conflict displaced millions of people, created a humanitarian crisis, and drew global concern about the stability of the Horn of Africa. In November 2022, the Pretoria Peace Agreement was signed between the Ethiopian government and the TPLF, marking a significant step toward ending the war. The agreement called for the withdrawal of foreign forces, restoration of services to the Tigray region, and national reconciliation. Although Eritrea was not a direct signatory to the deal, its presence and influence in northern Ethiopia remained a sensitive issue.
Since the end of major fighting, the relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea has appeared cooperative but cautious. Both governments share certain security and economic interests, yet mistrust persists beneath the surface. For ordinary citizens, the hopes raised in 2018 have not yet fully materialized. Many families separated by war continue to wait for a permanent reopening that would allow them to reunite.
Edet-Ita Edidiong Nsidibe is a final year undergraduate of International Relations at Admiralty University and an intern at the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Abuja. He can be reached via: edidiongnsidibeedetita@gmail.com.
