Ethiopians and Eritreans gathered joyfully at the Zalambessa border town on Sunday, reuniting for the first time in five years. The emotional reunion marked a rare moment of peace and reconciliation following years of separation caused by the 2020 conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region and longstanding political tensions between the two nations.
The symbolic gathering, organized by local activists and community leaders without official government involvement, brought together families and friends who had been kept apart by the militarized border. Many wept as they embraced their loved ones, chanting, “Enough of the past, let’s sit at the table of peace and build a better future.”
The reunion was attended by village elders and religious leaders, and many saw it as a grassroots step toward healing. For years, communities in and around Zalambessa and the Eritrean town of Senafe have suffered the consequences of the border closure — economic hardship, social fragmentation, and displacement. Over 55,000 people fled the violence in Tigray and now live in makeshift shelters in Adigrat, about 30 km south of Zalambessa.
Despite the formal end of the Tigray war in 2022, the border has remained closed due to lingering tensions. However, Sunday’s event saw a resumption of cross-border trade, with residents using both Ethiopian and Eritrean currencies. “As people, we want to eat, trade and attend social events as before. What we need is peace,” said one Tigrayan woman.
Yet challenges persist. Zalambessa’s infrastructure remains in ruins — electricity, telecommunications, and banking systems are non-functional. Essential services such as water, health, and education are only slowly being restored, mainly through community efforts and donor support.
Though it is unclear whether this local initiative will lead to a broader political reconciliation, the atmosphere was one of cautious optimism. “I am confident that the peace and reconciliation we started today will continue to grow,” said Eritrean attendee Nebiat Woldegergis.
For many like Amleset, a mother returning to her long-abandoned home, the event marked a hopeful new chapter: “From now on, I will return with my children and continue living on my land.”
