The African nations of Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a treaty to end the war between them on Monday, CNN reports.

Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Meskel confirmed the news in a tweet declaring the “state of war that existed between the two countries has come to an end.”

“A new era of peace and friendship has been ushered. Both countries will work to promote close cooperation in political, economic, social, cultural and security areas,” he continued.

A peace deal called the Algiers Agreement between the two countries was reached in 2000 and in June Ethiopia’s government announced that it would implement the deal with Eritrea, per CNN.

The countries fought a deadly war between 1998 to 2000 that killed at least 70,000 people.

The peace treaty will now allow for embassies to be reopened and flights to resume between the countries to “strengthen diplomatic ties,” according to CNN.

In April, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said he wanted to “years of misunderstanding.”

The peace agreement was acknowledged by Pope Francis during a prayer on Sunday, CNN reports.

“In the midst of many conflicts,” The Pope said. “I would like to highlight an initiative that can be described as historic and that is good news: in these days, after 20 years, the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea are talking of peace.”