ADDIS ABABA – On the sideline of the 33rd Ordinary AU Summit, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held separate side meetings with leaders of South Sudan, Djibouti, Sudan, Republic of Guinea, Algeria, Morocco and Ghana where he sought elevated cooperation with the countries.
The Premier’s separate talks with the leaders of the seven countries focused on wide ranging of issues from economy to security affairs.
Press Secretariat Nigusu Tilahun told journalists that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir have agreed to scale up cooperation to ensure reliable peace in the South Sudan while also expressing the importance of having transitional government in the country by IGAD’s timetable.
South Sudanese situation directly affects Ethiopian and it looks to scale up its contribution in ensuring peace in south Sudan. Abiy stressed the need to meet IGAD‘s deadline and establish transitional government.
Meanwhile, Abiy held talks with President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti where the two countries have sought a renewed cooperation in the areas
of economy and security. Both countries agreed to increase Djibouti port capacity to look ways ofimproving railway.conncetivity. The two countries also vowed to work closely in ensuring security in the horn, said Niguse who attended the talks.
The Premier also spoke with Algerian President in which both countries agreed to elevate Abiy extended his appreciation to Algeria’s mediation role during the Ethio-Eritrea war while the Algeria’s president expressing delight over prime minister Abiy’s Nobel Peace Prize award, according to Nigusu.
The two countries like to deepen the historical ties between the two countries. Both leaders also expressed their desire to further strengthen collaboration between the Sahel and East Africa.
Abiy also conferred with Sudanese, Moroccan, Ghanaian leaders and representatives.
The Ethiopian Herald February 11/2020
BY DESTA GEBREHIWOT
