Ethiopia, Somalia reaffirm determination to take relations to new heights

Addis Ababa, October 13, 2022 (FBC) – The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Federal Republic of Somalia have pledged to work together on security, economic development, and capacity building.

The two countries expressed their commitment to cooperation during a meeting between the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, and the Prime Minister of Somalia, Hamza Abdi Barre.

Hamza Abdi Barre arrived in Ethiopia on Thursday to take part in the 10th Tana High Security Forum that will be held from October 14-16 in Bahir Dar city.

The Prime Minister of Somalia appreciated Ethiopia for supporting the statehood process in Somalia since 2004, further noting the need to take the relationships between the two countries to new heights.

Demeke, for his part, said Ethiopia and Somalia should uplift their relations in accordance with their common interests and expectations of their people, who are culturally and geographically interlinked.

He stated that the exchange of visits between the leaders of the two countries allowed the peoples of Ethiopia and Somalia to explore the possibility of future cooperation.

According to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen, the Tana Forum is a valuable platform to exchange views on security issues that matter to Africa.

Upon his arrival in Addis Ababa, Adem Farah, Vice President of the Prosperity Party, accorded a warm welcome to the Prime Minister of Somalia.