Eritrean president visits Ethiopia for first time in 22 years

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki landed in Addis Ababa on Saturday for his first visit to Ethiopia in 22 years, after the two East African countries declared peace earlier this week.

On landing at the airport in the Ethiopian capital, Isaias was greeted by Ethiopia's reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who himself made a historic visit to neighbouring Eritrea last weekend.

After that visit, and weeks of thawing diplomatic ties, the two countries signed a declaration of peace on Monday, officially marking an end to a border war that claimed tens of thousands of lives between 1998 and 2000.

There was a festive atmosphere in Addis Ababa, with Ethiopians dancing at the airport when Isaias arrived and lining the main streets to see his motorcade.

During Abiy's visit last week, a telephone connection and flights were resumed between the East African countries. They also resolved to open embassies in each other's capitals.

The diplomatic thaw began in June when, under its new reformist leader, Ethiopia announced it would fully accept the terms of a 2000 peace agreement that it had previously refused to honour.

Eritrea was part of Ethiopia until 1993, when it declared independence after a referendum.

Abiy, who came to power earlier this year, after his predecessor stepped down amid widespread anti-government protests, has introduced a number of other reforms in a country widely considered repressive by rights groups.

He has freed large numbers of political prisoners, and opposition groups once classified as "terrorist" organizations have been unbanned.

Reclusive Eritrea has also been accused of grave human rights abuses and jailing critics. On Saturday, as Isaias made the historic visit, Amnesty International urged him to "usher in an era of respect for human rights."

"Amnesty International calls on the Eritrean authorities to immediately end human rights violations and abuses, including persecution of religious minorities and forced military conscription," the group said in a statement.