Somalia: PM in Ethiopia for two-day official visit

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire has arrived in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa on Friday, May 25 for a two-day official visit, Garowe Online reports.

This visit came after the PM has accepted an invitation from his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed, his office said, in what would be his second trip to the Addis Ababa since taking office last year.

During his stay, Khaire is expected to meet with Ahmed at State House in Addis Ababa and hold talks aimed at bolstering the relations between Somalia and Ethiopia, mainly the security and trade.

This is the first visit, a Somali leader pays to the neighboring country since Abiy Ahmed was elected as the Prime Minister of Ethiopian last April, replacing Hailemariam Desalegn who resigned unexpectedly in February 2018.

PM Khaire has left behind his Foreign Minister Ahmed Issa Awad on his current visit to Ethiopia. The minister was in Addis Ababa before the PM's arrival as he paved the way for his trip.

Ethiopia has been the most important external actor in Somali affairs in the past two decades, having a bigger strategic impact on local politics than any other country in the region.

Addis Ababa is one of the top troop-contributing countries to AMISOM - African Union Mission in Somalia which is made up of 22,000 soldiers helping Somali government in the fight against Al-Shabab.

GAROWE ONLINE