Nine years ago, Ethiopia triggered the events that led to Eritrea being sanctioned by the UN Security Council.

But Ethiopia’s new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has now requested that the UN lift the punitive measures against its neighbour just hours after the two countries signed a deal to end the state of war between them after two decades.

The sanctions stemmed from accusations by some East African countries that Eritrea was destabilising the region by sponsoring Somalia-based Islamist militant group al-Shabab.

The government in Asmara has always denied the allegations.

The petition, presented to UN chief Antonio Guterres in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, is likely to receive support at the Security Council, where Ethiopia holds a non-permanent seat.

Mr Guterres, who told reporters the reconciliation between the country was "illustrative of a new wind of hope blowing across Africa", added:

Sanctions were invited by a number of events that took place. It is my belief that if those events no longer exist, if the reasons that led to the sanctions do no longer exist - of course it depends on the specific nature of those sanctions - they will naturally become obsolete.”

Ethiopia is also a strong trade and security ally of the China and US who hold veto powers at the council.

Eritrea is also set to rejoin the regional bloc Igad, which it left in 2007.

It marks a dramatic turnaround for Eritrea, considered one of the most repressive and secretive countries in the continent.