ADDIS ABABA – Deputy President of the Ethiopian Somali State Mustafa Mohammed said that a concerted engagement of the state and federal governments as well as the public has been bringing significant results in restoring peace, order and stability in the area.
The deputy president met with The Ethiopian Herald in Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa during the commencement of the 1st phase of Berbera Corridor that envisioned connecting Berbera Port with Ethiopia’s border town of Togochale. Mustafa noted that the support from residents is critical to restore stability in areas where violence happened recently, and the public has played iconic role in efforts being exerted to ensure rule of law in the state.
He said the cause for the past violence occurred in Ethiopian Somali State does not belong to the majority of the public, adding that the state administration has managed to control the violence with the support of the federal government and the public. Currently peace and stability in the state is significantly improved and the residents enable to pursue their daily lives without fear as the new administration curtailing the threat that was posed on the public’s wellbeing.
The deputy president indicated that the state government is engaged to ensure the sustainability of the system that protects public’s rights and it is committed to closely work with the public to maintain peace and stability. The state government would also work in concert with all relevant stakeholders to curb contraband trade and other cross border crimes.
Concerning Berbera Corridor, Mustafa stated that the project has a special benefit for Ethiopian Somali State to attract both domestic and foreign companies and enhance its competitiveness in luring businesses. The presence of sea corridor in nearby also builds local and international investors’ confidence to access the market.
Furthermore, the project would play significant role for the furtherance of the strong people- to- people and cultural intermingle between Ethiopian Somali State and the neighboring Somaliland. According to Mustafa, the commencement of Berbera Corridor showcased the interest of the Ethiopian government to create infrastructuraldriven economic ties with all neighbors in the view to materialize AU’s vision of regional economic integration.
Noting Ethiopia’s fast-growing import- export trade and a considerably huge shipment due to rapid economic progress and a large population size, the deputy president said that the corridor is beneficial for the country to get additional access to the sea.
To meet with Ethiopia’s everexpanding demand to port services, the government is hugely engaged in reaching agreements in the utilization of neighboring ports in the view to supplement the country’s export performance and foreign exchange earnings, he elaborated.
The Ethiopian Herald, March 26/2019
BY BILAL DERSO
