Somalia: Farmajo skips key AU summit in Ethiopia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo resolved to skip this year's African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, Garowe Online reports.

The country's deputy PM, Mahdi Mohamed Guled is representing him in the 11th extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU which has kicked off on Saturday, November 17.

It is not clear why Farmajo missed the assembly.

The two-day high-level summit focuses on issues, including the AU institutional reform process including reform of the AU Commission, the mandate of the AU Development Agency, and financing the Union.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed said the reforms requires great work, urging African Union (AU) leaders to work hard towards making the reforms successful and effective.

Somali president wrapped up a two-day visit to Ethiopia after attending the second tripartite meeting to cement the outcome of the Horn of Africa economic integration deal signed in Asmara last September.

During their recent meeting in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Ahmed, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and President Farmajo agreed to hold the next tripartite meeting in Mogadishu, Somalia's capital.

GAROWE ONLINE