Strengthening Peace and Stability
Flagship and Compass of Navigation in the Horn of Africa
The annexation of Eritrea to Ethiopia imposed by the wining powersof World War II has exposed the people of the Horn of Africa since1952 - to the long drawn out war, conflict, displacement ofpopulations, refugees, underdevelopment, recurrent draught, famine,
which sadly resulted in the total dilapidation of the promising Hornof Africa’s physical and social infrastructures for more than half acentury. The recovery and rehabilitation challenges that this region
had to face and tackle after the end of the independence war weredaunting and complex as a result.
Although the long trek of the struggle to self-determination of thepeople of Eritrea was put in the ballot box, and the guns that roaredfor 30 long years were silenced through referendum, in 1993, theproxy politicking that haunted this region since the end of World War
II remained unabated, even after, for the last two decades.
The vacuum left in 1991 by the forced evacuation of the powerfulpresence of USSR of 17 years - in the Horn of Africa - sucked-in newplayers to the region. Very rich individuals/extremist groups,including Osama Bin Laden, and new interest groups from far andnear, took no time to put-in their ideological and monetary power tofill-up the vacuum. These powerful forces, with their tentacles spreadall over our planet, tried all in their means – to deploy fully direct
tools of subversion, including and not excluding carrot and stick, totake full control of the Horn of Africa.
Newly independent State of Eritrea born after half a century ofpolitical and armed struggle, roughly the size of England straddlingon the strategic world trade corridor of the Red Sea 3300 km coast of
East Africa – with 354 Islands and islets - bordered by Sudan,Ethiopia and Djibouti, was targeted and attacked, by one after
another, from all sides since independence in 1993. The Horn ofAfrica was simultaneously exploited to the highest level by willfulforces in power. The rule of law was given a deaf ear. Humanitariandisasters, piracy, illegal trafficking of human beings, finance, material,illicit drug, arms, ammunition and the prairie fire of corruption havespread engulfing the region for decades until now. Fortunately, theseevil toolboxes did not and could not challenge the long history and1

cherished course of solidarity of struggle for freedom, equality andjustice by the people of Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Reversing the aims and damages inflicted by the different forces
involved in the above-mentioned activities, the phenomenal tie-up ofcommon past and destiny once again bear fruit to the Eritrea
Ethiopia Peace and Friendship Agreement signed in Asmara on July 9,2018.
This peace is based on our common struggle, resilience and trusts ofthe people of Eritrea and Ethiopia and has no illusion of the powerand capacity of the dark forces both upstream and downstream. Thishistoric agreement is also aware of the continued challenges that canbe posed by the same forces of darkness. At the same time, Eritrea
and Ethiopia have high expectation that the “internationalcommunity” is currently convinced fully and shall unequivocallydesist reviving any of the past experiences of the rules of military
engagements in the Horn of Africa. And they will be firmly willingand ready to promote and opt to engage constructively, with the only
best future option availed by this agreement, i.e. to build
partnerships through mutual efforts of boosting peace, stability,prosperity and cooperation in the Horn of Africa.
Peace building within this historic and very important region of theHorn of Africa also means peace to the Nile Basin countries, Middle
East and beyond.
Japan has fully embraced strengthening peace and stability as aflagship and compass of navigation for its cooperation with the Hornof Africa in TICAD7 Yokohama 2019. Building mutual trust based on
concrete diplomacy of common interest is the benchmark now.
By
ESTIFANOS Afeworki, Ambassador
ERITREA/Tokyo
September 4, 2019---------------------------------------------------------------------2