By: Ahmed Mohammed
“She was my love, my heart, my soul,
But the tides of time tore us apart.
Now I stand here, longing for her touch.
Wishing fate would reunite us once more."
These lyrics, loosely translated and inspired by Tewodros Kassahun, aka Teddy Afro’s longing for a love lost to separation, are yet prophetic ones foreseeing the inevitable reunion of Ethiopia and Eritrea, a mother and a child, respectively. “Is Teddy insightful?” I had wondered when the two nations resolved their no-war, no-peace mood in 2018, a historic phenomenon that sadly collapsed shortly though. The other day, I by chance met a friend of mine from old school in a café, a fun corner where Eritreans and Ethiopians frequently frequent for mingling. We regretfully discussed grave errors committed by old-school petitioners, both from Ethiopia and Eritrea. We also made a mental note of bonanzas we Ethiopians and Eritreans would enjoy if we remained united and foreshadowed the bright future ahead of us.
Dear Brothers and Sisters of Eritrea,
Greetings from the heart of Ethiopia, from your twin flames.
This letter comes to you not as a demand, but as an appeal—a plea from the heart of Ethiopia, your motherland, your kin. I write not with arrogance, but with sorrow for the years lost, the opportunities missed, and the dreams shattered by the shortsightedness of past leaders on both sides, leaders of post-independent Eritrea. Teddy Afro’s song about a love lost to separation mirrors the tragedy of both Ethiopia and Eritrea. Just as he mourns the girl he could not hold onto, millions of Ethiopians and Eritreans mourn the unity that was irresponsibly shattered decades ago. Yet, our story is not unique—it is one of thousands, written by the hands of fate, politics, and the divisive legacy that colonialists from overseas left behind.
Dear Eritreans,
As I am penning down this letter right now, Abreham Afeworki’s song is playing in the background, forcing me to return back in years, lost in my nostalgic mood, which helped me retrieve deep-buried memories of old days I shared with my Eritrean childhood friends, including my ex, who was lost to separation. So sad, yet so optimistic that our reunion is inevitable.
Dear Eritreans,
Be conscious, note down opportunities we lost, and recall the euphoria we claimed when the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea opened in 2018. The streets of Asmara and Addis Ababa, which erupted into a carnival mood. Be conscious and rethink the newfound energy seen over the skies of Zalambessa. It was like a reunion of twin flames—so euphoric, so perfect in this imperfect world. The joy families showed when reunited, the laughter echoed, and hope blossomed. Eritreans danced to Ethiopian music, and Ethiopians embraced their long-lost brothers and sisters. But that hope faded, buried under the weight of unresolved grievances and missed opportunities, largely because of invisible dark forces, not from Ethiopia or Eritrea, but from elsewhere.
Dear Eritreans,
For thirty-plus years, we both have paid a heavy price for separation. Ethiopia, a nation of 120 million people, remains landlocked, forced to spend billions on port fees while Eritrea’s ports sadly lie underutilized. Meanwhile, Eritrea, despite its sovereignty, has struggled under isolation, its potential untapped, its’ people yearning for genuine prosperity. “Make a mental note of gains what you earned following your ‘independence.’ Has the ‘birth’ brought you wealth, security, or lasting pride? Or has it only perpetuated stagnation while the world moves forward? Be conscious and imagine an alternative—a reunited Horn of Africa where Ethiopia and Eritrea stand as one. A nation with access to the Red Sea, turning Massawa and Assab into thriving hubs of trade. Visualize Ethiopia’s fertile land feeding Eritrea, ending food insecurity; Ethiopia’s hydropower lighting up Eritrean homes and industries; a combined market of over 130 million people attracting global investment; and Eritrea.
Dear Eritreans,
This is not fantasy, or else a brainwash of a die-hard cadre, just genuine words from your brother, who well knows the power of reunion, at least economic integration. I will gain nothing in return for what I’m writing, nor lose from not doing so. Only the opportunities I'm foreseeing in post-Ethiopia-Eritrea economic integration are prompting my soul to reach yours. Yup, it's the bright future we would embark on at some point in the years ahead that’s making me declare my dream, a dream of reclaiming mutual benefits, not a free lunch—as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed once boldly announced.
Dear Eritreans,
Don’t you wonder why Germany reunited after decades of separation and became Europe’s strongest economy? Be conscious and make a mental note of why several nations are now reunited, some after hundreds of years.
Why should Eritrea and Ethiopia remain the exception? Why should we allow foreign powers—those who profit from our division—to dictate our fate? Be conscious and sketch our future tighter, the economic surge we would witness, the mighty economic power we would become. Be conscious of unlocked opportunities that come along following our economic integration, if not reunification. Once reunited, the underdeveloped ports of Eritrea would turn into hubs of regional and international significance.
In return, Ethiopia opens its vast market, provides electricity and agricultural support, and invests in Eritrea’s development. Together—united, reunited—we would build roads, railways, and industries that benefit both nations, the wider region, and beyond.
Dear Eritreans,
This is not surrender—it is strategy. Eritrea stands to gain far more from a strong, cooperative Ethiopia than from a strained, isolated existence. Ethiopia’s population grows by millions each year. The pressure for economic survival will force change—whether through diplomacy or desperation. The question is, will Eritrea be our partner in shaping this future, or will it cling to isolation until the tide becomes unstoppable? Break free from the past. Let truth set us free, reshape twisted tales of old schools, and rethink. Let's choose cooperation over confrontation and prosperity over pride. Eritrea can become richer by opening its ports than by keeping them closed. Ethiopia can invest in Eritrea’s infrastructure, share its resources, and ensure both nations rise together. Let's shake off old skins and create a landscape where a combined market of over 130 million people attracts investors from across the globe. Eritrea’s coastline could be the gateway for Ethiopia’s booming economy—earning billions in transit fees, creating jobs, and reviving ancient trade routes. The time for reunion is now, right now---we shouldn’t be tricked by inherited, twisted words of old days. Shalom!
