Ethiopia – Great rejoicing for Salesians as Ethiopia-Eritrea border opens after 20 years

25 September 2018

(ANS – Makelle) – Ethiopians and Eritreans have been celebrating the reopening of two key crossing points more than 20 years after a border war shut them. Hundreds of people from the two countries hugged each other and some wept as their leaders led celebrations to mark the reopening. Salesians shared the same feelings as the confreres from Eritrea visited the house of Makelle in Ethiopia on 15 September 2018.

The meeting was a very cordial one as confreres met with the provincial of Ethiopia, Fr Estifanos Gebremeskel, and Brother Cesare Bullo along with other confreres of the community of Makelle. The group consisted of two perpetually professed confreres, three priests and Abba Petros Abraha, the superior of the delegation.

“This is a home-coming for us. We are so moved and touched to see these places which have lot of emotional attachment for us,” said Abba Petros, who currently leads the Eritrean delegation.

The two countries were one single province until the tense political situation rendered them apart several years ago, leaving Ethiopia as a single province of AET, with Eritrea directly under the Generalate at Rome.

Although uncertain as regards the future merging of the two countries to form a single province, the peace process has provoked a sense of excitement of joy and jubilation among the people and especially among the confreres of the two countries. The normalization of relations between the two countries has coincided with the Ethiopian New Year, adding to the festive atmosphere in the country.

The "Declaration of peace and friendship" signed by the political leaders of the two countries on July 9 gave new hope and great joy to the inhabitants of Ethiopia and Eritrea. "After the reactivation of the telephone lines between the two countries, from Ethiopia people dialed random numbers with Eritrean prefixes just to celebrate with strangers," Abba Petros said to the Italian newspaper" Avvenire".

"It's a moment of epochal change. The situation is evolving and I'm optimistic. The opening between the two countries I think will present new challenges, both religiously and socially. Signing peace was like breaking down a wall. It represents a bridge of love between two states that have a single people that can now meet," said the Salesian.

InfoANS

ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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