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Ethiopia PM Abiy Ahmed wants to resolve Eritrea disputes | Ethiopia PM Abiy Ahmed wants to resolve Eritrea disputes |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ethiopia's new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, has pledged his readiness to resolve disputes with neighbour Eritrea. | Ethiopia's new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, has pledged his readiness to resolve disputes with neighbour Eritrea. |
Speaking on state television after his swearing-in ceremony, Mr Abiy called for an end to "years of misunderstandings". | |
"I call on the Eritrean government to take the same stand," he said. | "I call on the Eritrean government to take the same stand," he said. |
The two countries have had poor relations since a two-year border war, which claimed 70,000 lives. | The two countries have had poor relations since a two-year border war, which claimed 70,000 lives. |
Mr Abiy was chosen to lead the ruling coalition after the unexpected resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in February. | |
He is Ethiopia's first Oromo leader - an ethnic group which has been at the centre of anti-government protests since 2016. | He is Ethiopia's first Oromo leader - an ethnic group which has been at the centre of anti-government protests since 2016. |
State television channel ETV broadcast his speech live after he was sworn in. | State television channel ETV broadcast his speech live after he was sworn in. |
Mr Abiy said the country was ready to resolve differences between the two peoples, who are "not only intertwined in interests but also in blood". | |
"We will stand by our African brothers in general and our neighbours in particular, during good and bad at times," he said. | "We will stand by our African brothers in general and our neighbours in particular, during good and bad at times," he said. |
Mr Hailemariam, while in power, had accused Eritrea of backing anti-government protests in the country. | |
Eritrea has made no comment since Mr Ahmed was nominated to replace Mr Hailemariam. | |
The two countries fought a bloody two-year struggle between 1998 and 2000. Eritrea had previously fought a 30-year independence campaign against Ethiopia after its annexation in 1962. | The two countries fought a bloody two-year struggle between 1998 and 2000. Eritrea had previously fought a 30-year independence campaign against Ethiopia after its annexation in 1962. |
Ethiopia still occupies land at the heart of the conflict, around the town of Badme. | Ethiopia still occupies land at the heart of the conflict, around the town of Badme. |