Ethiopia – (warsoor) – Somaliland president, Muse Bihi Abdi with several members of his cabinet reached on Tuesday the Ethiopian capital Addisababa for two days official visit in the country. The president was received at the Bole International Airport by the Ethiopian foreign minister, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu with red carpet treatment and later met with Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn. The two leaders discussed trade, border security, regional security and counter terrorism efforts and among other things. They exchanged views to enhance the existing cooperation and agreed to prevent any thing that can hinder the long standing ties between Ethiopian and Somaliland.
According to close sources to the president’s delegation, both leaders also raised in their discussion the implementation of Berbera corridor, which is very strategic for both countries as Ethiopia is a landlocked country. After the meeting came to an end, President Abdi spoke to the press and told that his administration will be strengthening the security and political relations with Ethiopia. The President received an official invitation from the Ethiopian Minister Hailemariam Desalegn for two days visit in the capital.
Speaking on this issue, the Ethiopian prime minister said, “We discussed issue on security, because, we believe that Ethiopian security is the security for Somaliland and Somaliland’s security is that of Ethiopia”. Finally the two sides have pledged to work closely on ensuring peace, stability and most of all the fight against terrorism and insecurity which dominated the discussion that the two leaders held yesterday”.
The discussion lasted for hours and ended with mutual understanding of all the issues raised during the meeting. The president was accompanied by Interior Minister, Mohamed Kahin Ahmed, Foreign Minister Sa’ad Ali shire, Trade, Industry and Tourism Minister Mohamoud Hassan Saed, Education Minister Prof.Yasim Mohamoud Xiir and Somaliland National Army Chief Major-General Nuh Ismail Tani.
Somaliland and landlocked Ethiopia share close economic ties. Large percentage of goods imported by Ethiopia enters through Somaliland’s Berbera Port which Addis Ababa obtained a 19% partial share in May 2017. Ethiopia becomes the second country after Djibouti that President Abdi paid visit since his election in November 2017. As a de facto, state, Somaliland has been enjoying a warm relation with Ethiopia since 1991 and yet wants Ethiopia to push Somaliland’s recognition in the horn region.
By Mouse Abdilahi (Jeh)
Freelancer