Somalia: Farmajo heads to Eritrea to cement relations

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo will leave Mogadishu on Saturday, July 28 as he heads to Eritrea for his first visit since taking office in early 2017, Garowe Online reports.

Eritrea's minister of information, Yemane G. Meskel said in a tweet that President Farmajo and his delegation are scheduled to arrive in Asmara Saturday morning for a three-day landmark visit.

Meskel said the visit came following an invitation from Eritrean President, Isaias Afwerki.

"On the invitation of President Isaias Afwerki, the President of the Republic of Somalia, H.E. Mohammed Abdullahi Mohammed, will pay a three-day visit to Eritrea. President Mohammed Abdullahi and his delegation are scheduled to arrive in Asmara tomorrow morning," he tweeted.

For his part, the Information Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, Dahir Mohamud Geelle has confirmed Farmajo's visit to Eritrea, saying it is aimed at cementing frosty diplomatic ties with Asmara.

During his historic visit, Somali Present will meet his Eritrean counterpart Isaias Afwerki in Asmara and discuss on ways to restore 'full-fledged relations based the two countries under UN embargo on arms.

The two East African nations have not had relations for nearly 15 years. Farmajo will become the first of serving Somali President to pay such visit Eritrea since it has seceded from Ethiopia in 1993.

GAROWE ONLINE