[8][9][10][11] Each country accused the other of hosting terrorist movements aimed at fomenting regime change,[12][13] and both remained closed societies; Ethiopia was an authoritarian dominant-party state ruled by the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), and Eritrea is a totalitarian one-party state ruled by the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ).

[14] Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 2012 to 2018, was unable to make progress toward resolving tensions with Eritrea, and his tenure saw repeated waves of protest against the repressive political atmosphere.

[22] Ethnic Irobs living in the border areas currently under Ethiopian administration organised a protest to condemn the decision to accept the boundary commission's ruling, fearing the division of their community.

[20] The Eritrean government, seeming to have been caught by surprise by the move,[21] refrained from commenting on the Ethiopian offer for two weeks until 20 June, in President Isaias's speech on the occasion of Martyrs' Day.

Bemoaning "two lost generations" of opportunity, the Eritrean president announced that his government would send a delegation to Addis Ababa "to gauge current developments directly and in depth as well as to chart out a plan for continuous future action".

[20] Less than a week later, on 26 June 2018, Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh visited Addis Ababa for three days, taking part in the first bilateral meeting between the two countries in over two decades.

The two leaders and their delegations held an expanded bilateral meeting at the Presidential Palace, announcing that telephone lines between the two countries would be re-connected with immediate effect.

"[29] In the joint declaration, the two countries agreed to resume diplomatic relations and transport, trade and communications links, implement the EEBC's border ruling, and ensure regional peace and cooperation.

Countries and territories Organizations The evening of his return to Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and briefed him on the summit proceedings.

[50][51] Speaking at a state luncheon hosted by President Mulatu Teshome, Isaias affirmed the unity of Eritrea and Ethiopia, saying "henceforth, anyone who says Eritreans and Ethiopians are two different peoples is one that doesn't know the truth.