A “party” at the border: An anthropological take on the Ethio-Eritrean peace deal of 2018

Abstract

This article is based on an eyewitness and firsthand information on the opening of Eritrea and Ethiopian border on 11 September 2018. From photographs, interviews, and observation in the towns of Senafe (Eritrea) and Zalambessa (Ethiopia), the authors intend to capture grassroots political statement and reflect retrospectively on the Ethio-Eritrean peace deal. The main objective is to capture grassroots political impression and implication of the peace agreement and contribute to the anthropology of borders. Withstanding the challenge of studying borderlands within the lens of anthropology that calls for a methodological shift towards, “authority, identity, and power” dimensions in borderland studies, this article aims to contribute to the study of border and borderlands vis-à-vis local, state, and international actors. In a world where state and international negotiators are active in border dispute resolution, understanding local views and actions is crucial. The authors found that the Ethio-Eritrean peace agreement did not sufficiently consider local voices and initiatives which is crucial for a sustainable peace in the region. Considering these findings, the authors encourage further research on inter-state peacemaking and the role of local voices.

Keywords

• ethio-eritrean border conflict
• peace-deal
• borderlands
• local voices
• tigray