TWO AFRICAN PRESIDENTS HANG OUT IN TOWN

It’s not often you see two African presidents out for an evening stroll in the city together. But that’s exactly what happened a couple of months back. In this clip, you can see the presidents of Eritrea and Somalia wandering through downtown Asmara - casually interacting with locals, amid minimal security. There were hand shakes, high fives and big smiles all round, and the promenade included a stop-off at a coffee house.

Of course, Isaias Afwerki and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had some very important business besides socialising and checking out the capital’s nightlife. They were holding security talks amid heightened tensions in the region, after Ethiopia (from which Eritrea broke away) recognised (Somalia’s) breakaway Somaliland in return for access to the sea.

Relations between Eritrea and Somalia haven’t always been great either, with the latter previously accusing the former of providing insurgents with weapons - something Asmara brands a lie put about by Addis Ababa.

But judging by the videos of their relaxed walkabout, the two presidents get on well enough - so it could signal a new era in bilateral ties.

The videos also contradict the typical Western portrayal of Afwerki as an autocratic ruler… would you agree?