IGAD welcomes Ethiopia-Somalia agreement to strengthen regional integration
Addis Ababa, September 30, 2022 (FBC) – Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has welcomed the agreement reached by leaders of Ethiopia and Somalia to strengthen regional cooperation.
Ethiopia and Somalia are not just member states of IGAD, but founder members of the organisation of both IGAD and the AU. Their relationship is therefore not new both at the bilateral, multilateral and people to people relations, said Spokesperson for the IGAD Executive Secretary, Nuur Mohamud Sheekh said.
In an exclusive interview with Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC), the Spokesperson stated that Friday’s communique just reaffirmed these relationships and also included other areas of strategic cooperation including security, trade and training and countering terrorism and addressing the perennial drought situation, the Spokesperson noted.
To help implement this important commitment to the strategic partnership, the two leaders instructed the relevant ministries and institutions to have regular meetings, he said.
“Prime Minister Abiy was among the heads of state and government who graced the inauguration of president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in May and was given a warm welcome by his Somali counterpart and the people of Somalia then. The Somali president received a similar welcome in Addis Ababa this week.”
IGAD welcomes the letter and spirit of the communique as it strengthens regional cooperation and ultimately a form of regional economic and infrastructure integration and connectivity and cooperation in multilateral diplomacy, Nuur Mohamud Sheekh underscored.
“I should also add that Ethiopian Airlines flies to and from Addis Ababa to Somalia cities including Mogadishu and Garowe ferrying people and goods.”