Twenty-five years ago, guns went silent along one of Africa’s most volatile borders. The Algiers Agreement, signed in 2000, officially ended a brutal two-year war between Ethiopia and Eritrea—a conflict that claimed an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 lives on both sides and left deep scars across the Horn of Africa. Today, that hard-won peace is back in the spotlight, and the United Nations is ringing the alarm bell.
Marking the treaty’s 25th anniversary, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on both nations to recommit fully to the agreement, warning that drifting away from its principles could reopen the door to renewed conflict. His message was simple, direct, and urgent: peace treaties are not souvenirs—you don’t hang them on the wall and forget them; you live by them.
The Algiers Agreement came after Eritrea had only recently gained independence from Ethiopia, a separation that quickly spiraled into a devastating border war between 1998 and 2000. While the treaty ended open hostilities, relations between the two countries remained tense for years, with borders closed and communities divided.
A major breakthrough finally came in 2018, when relations dramatically thawed. Eritrea’s president made a historic visit to Ethiopia, the first in 22 years—and both countries publicly reaffirmed their acceptance of the peace deal. For a moment, the region breathed easier. Diplomats celebrated, borders reopened, and hope returned.
But history, as always, has a way of circling back.
In recent months, tensions have begun to rise again. Ethiopia deployed troops to joint border areas in March, while Eritrea intensified military mobilisation, calling on young citizens to enlist in the armed forces. Neither government has offered official explanations for these moves, but observers see familiar warning signs—quiet manoeuvres that often precede louder confrontations.
Lurking beneath the surface is a long-standing strategic issue: access to the Red Sea. Ethiopia, a landlocked country, relies heavily on its neighbours for maritime trade routes, and Eritrea’s coastline remains a critical factor in regional power calculations. While rarely stated outright, this reality continues to fuel suspicion and geopolitical tension.
The UN’s intervention is a reminder that peace is not self-sustaining. Agreements age, leaders change, and priorities shift, but unresolved grievances never truly disappear. As the Horn of Africa navigates political, economic, and security challenges, the call to respect the Algiers Agreement is not about the past alone; it is about preventing history from repeating itself.
Bottom line: the treaty ended a war once. Whether it continues to prevent another now depends on the choices Ethiopia and Eritrea make next.