JidbaaleOn Thursday, Ethiopia’s Defense Minister, Engineer Aisha Mohammed, had high-level discussions in Mogadishu with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Jama, and the State Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The dialogues focused on enhancing bilateral relations and promoting regional peace and stability.
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the two states agreed to cooperate on the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and committed to increasing diplomatic interactions, including reciprocal visits by high-ranking officials. Somali politicians are anticipated to visit Addis Ababa imminently as part of these initiatives.
Somalia’s Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Jama expressed appreciation for Ethiopia’s role in peacekeeping and counterterrorism initiatives in Somalia. Minister Aisha Mohammed reiterated Ethiopia’s commitment to countering terrorism and preserving regional stability.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mesganu Arga, emphasized the common problems faced by both countries, underscoring the need to immediately resolve security concerns to avoid conflicts that might hinder development initiatives.
AUSSOM, which replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) at the beginning of the year, seeks to direct Somalia towards enduring peace and security while facilitating its state-building efforts.
