ETHIOPIA -ERITREA- END-WAR

ADDIS ABABA : Ethiopia and Eritrea are no longer at war, the neighbouring nations said in a joint statement on Monday after a series of historic meetings in Asmara  to end decades of acrimony and conflict.

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel said on Twitter that Ethiopian Prime Minister  Abiy Ahmed , 41,  and Eritrean President  Isais Afwerki, 71 had inked a "Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship" on the second day of the state visit.

The statement declared that the "state of war that existed  between the two countries has come to an end. A new era of peace and friendship has been ushered [in]."

"Both countries will work to promote close cooperation in political, economic, social, cultural and security areas,"Yemane added. [AFP}