By Léa-Lisa WesterhoffPosted on 07-03-2019Modified on 07-03-2019 at 18:20
Continuation of our series of reports on the Ethiopia-Eritrea border. On September 11, with the opening of the Zalambessa border crossing in the north of the country, trade between the two neighbors exploded. But since December, Eritrea has closed this border post on the main trade route to Eritrea, which gives access to the sea. As a result, the trade that has soared between the Tigray region and its neighbor has cooled. a blow provoking the impatience of Ethiopian economic operators.
From our special envoy to Adigrat,
" Shire! Adwa! Aksum! "Yell the touts looking for passengers. The sun is not up yet, but the Mekele bus station, about 100 kilometers from the Eritrean border, is at its peak. Fifteen buses parked next to each other fill up in the darkness. Around them, touts try to attract travelers to their bus. The faster the bus is filled, the more lucrative is the day. But in recent weeks, it is almost impossible to find a minibus that takes the road to the Eritrean capital, Asmara.
This 23-year-old reel runner: " I have no passengers for Asmara today! In shorts and tank top despite the freshness of dawn, the young man continues: " Before there were more than a dozen buses that went every day to Asmara, I earned between 700 birr and 800 birr (20 and 24 € ) by minibus you imagine? Since December, Asmara's decision to close the Zalambessa border post to cars has cut the momentum in trade between the Tigray region and neighboring Eritrea. No more buses, now on either side, travelers pass by dropper on foot.
About fifty kilometers away, in Adigrat, the last big city before the border with Eritrea, a strategic crossing point on the road to the old Italian colony for trade, it's the same gloomy atmosphere. No matter who the trader is, everyone remembers with emotion the atmosphere that prevailed when the passage to Eritrea was totally open. " It was like it was everyday market day, it was crazy! Tesfaldet Hadush recalls in his small shop selling customized windows and mirrors. This 44-year-old trader from Eritrea fled his country 19 years ago.
" We know the exchange potential "
He remembers very well the last 20 years where there was no exchange between the two countries. The closed border, Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers looking each other in a rifle, ruminating on the trench warfare that killed nearly 100,000 people between 1998 and 2000. Forgotten all this from September to December: " What I sell in a month, I sold it in a week. I spent four times more orders in Addis Ababa to have enough stock! "
On this day of February, nothing to do, customers are rather rare. Windows are arranged side by side along the wall of the shop. A large wooden cutting table stands in the middle. Tesfaldet confirms, without possibility to go by car in Eritrea, impossible to export or to import. An absurd situation for economic operators, " because we know what is the potential exchange, " says Tesfaldet. The capital of the former Italian colony Asmara is only 150 km from Adigrat while Addis Ababa is about 800 km. Eritreans come to sell televisions and other products imported cheaply in Eritrea, while Ethiopians sell manufactured products, tables, furniture, etc. which are worth more in Eritrea.
" We are from the same families, of the same ethnic group, it does not make sense that our territory is cut off [the Tigray region extends on both sides of the Eritrean-Eritrean border] ", adds Alem Biyon , owner of a photo shop in the city center and representative of the chamber of commerce in Adigrat. " In addition, the port of Massawa [in Eritrea] is 220 km from here. Instead of going through Djibouti and making thousands of miles directly from the port of Massawa, it's much better! "
Zalambessa border post, will it reopen soon? Can not get a date Customs services are being set up to organize and tax trade, say Tigray officials. In early January, Ethiopia and Eritrea opened a new cross-border crossing at Humera, much further west, almost on the border with Sudan. But according to economic operators it is the most strategic Zalambessa station, because direct access to the port of Massawa and the capital Asmara. While waiting for its reopening, both sides of the Ethiopian and Eritrean border are keen to resume their trade.
The Mekele bus station, located some 100 km from the Eritrean border, has scarcely provided more buses to Eritrea since the border was closed again when the vehicles passed last December.
RFI / Léa-Lisa Westerhoff
The Mekele bus station, located some 100 km from the Eritrean border, has scarcely provided more buses to Eritrea since the border was closed again when the vehicles passed last December.
RFI / Léa-Lisa Westerhoff
Entry into the city of Mekele. Economic operators are eager to work with Eritreans.
RFI / Léa-Lisa Westerhoff
The photo of Tesfaldet's glass shop in Adigrat.
RFI / Léa-Lisa Westerhoff
On the same subject
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[Reportage] Inda Aba Guna, Eritrean youth on the road to exile
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