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Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed held bilateral discussions with the Somalia President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmajo” at his office today.
The discussions focused on strengthening of regional peace per the agreements signed previously and mechanisms to ensure Kenya-Somalia relations are strengthened, according to office of the Prime Minister.
They also deliberated on continuation of joint port development and ensuring that relations with the administration of Somaliland support regional peace, the office added.
The Somalia President arrived in Addis Ababa this morning for a day-long visit as part of PM Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s initiative for regional peace and security and economic integration in the Horn of Africa region.

Addis Ababa, March 3, 2019 – Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed, Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta discussed timely regional issues in a tripartite summit held in Asmara, Eritrea today.
The three leaders also discussed bilateral matters in separate meetings.
The peace pact signed between Ethiopia and Eritrea in July, ending two decades of animosity following a dispute over their border, is having positive effect throughout the horn of Africa.
Over the last few months, the horn of Africa has seen negotiations and reconciliation and the start of processes of normalization between Eritrea and Djibouti as well as Eritrea and Somalia.
The restoration of peace between and among the members of the region is already providing for the possibility of extended economic integration and a wider political response.
Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Eritrea, Redwan Hussein told the Ethiopian Herald recently that Addis Ababa and Asmara will soon seal a comprehensive cooperation agreement to formalize the two countries economic relations and regulating the trade and infrastructural connectivity.
The two countries have been conducting extensive discussions on ways to institutionalize the national and border trade, port usage, custom, immigration and transport linkages, and the comprehensive agreement would be tabled for the respective leaders for approval, he said.
After Ethiopia and Eritrea endorsed the agreements by their legislative organs, they would establish a joint commission that supervise the execution of accords in such a way ensuring the mutual benefit of people of the two countries and putting the rapprochement in solid base, he stated.
He further said discussions and negotiations are underway to expand the partnership in health and education sectors and reach a final deal in the trade law.

Addis Ababa, February 28, 2019 – Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen held talks with President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan on bilateral issues of mutual interest.
The two sides underscored the need to facilitate ways for economic integration between the two countries through trade, infrastructure, investment and other economic sectors, according to office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
The Sudanese government freed Ethiopians jailed in Sudan following the agreement reached between Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed and President al-Bashir a few months ago. Demeke thanked the government of Sudan for releasing them.
And based on the request of the Deputy Prime Minister, President al-Bashir promised to free additional Ethiopians imprisoned in his country in accordance with the law.
The Deputy Prime Minister further said Ethiopia will collaborate with the Sudanese refugee commission and provide the necessary support to return 44,000 Sudanese refugees back to their home country.
In a related development, the 5th Joint Ethio-Sudan Higher Economic Committee meeting which was launched at the friendship hall in Khartoum early in the morning, wrapped up later today.
The two sides agreed to strengthen the economic cooperation between the two countries.
In his opening remark at the meeting, Demeke said the government of Ethiopia is committed to make every effort to strengthen relations between the two countries.
He further said Ethiopia has played a positive role in maintaining security and stability in the border, emphasizing his confidence in the Sudanese government’s ability to overcome the current economic crisis.
Demeke also commended the Sudanese government’s contribution for the peace in Southern Sudan and for the security and stability in border areas.
The Joint Ethio-Sudan Higher Committee, which was launched in 2014, aims to realize economic integration between the two countries.

Addis Ababa, February 27, 2019 – The 46th Ordinary Session of the IGAD Council of Ministers which was held in Djibouti under the Chairmanship of Foreign Minister and Chair of the IGAD Council of Ministers, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu wrapped up later today.
The session was attended by Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Djibouti, Ahmed Isse Awad, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Somalia, Dr Al-Dirdiery Mohamed Ahmed, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sudan, Hirut Zemene, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia and Mohamed Ali Hassan, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Djibouti.
Mahboub Maalim, IGAD Executive Secretary; Hadiza Mustapha, Special Advisor to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr Ismael Wais, IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan and Dr Mohamed Ali Guyo, IGAD Special Envoy for Somalia were also in attendance.
The meeting underlined the importance of expediting the endorsement of the proposed treaty and structure to reform IGAD; and decided that there is need for enriched and continued discussion on the organizational structure and treaty of IGAD until the next ordinary sessions of the policy organs.
It also underscored the need for a collective approach to challenges in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden by strengthening regional cooperation, and establishing a regional platform for IGAD Member States with a view to promote dialogue with other stakeholders including the AU and other international partners.
IGAD and Germany have signed a 34 million Euros grant agreement on the sidelines of today’s the event. The project grant will be used for migration and capacity building.
Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers Dr. Workneh and Foreign Ministers of member countries witnessed the signing ceremony.

Addis Ababa, February 25, 2019 – Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) Cargo and Logistics Services, has been crowned with ‘African Cargo Airline of the Year’ and ‘Air Cargo Brand of the Year in Africa’ awards for the fourth year in a row.
Regarding the awards, Group CEO of Ethiopian, Mr. Tewolde Gebremariam, remarked, “We are honored to have received the ‘African Cargo Airline of the Year’ and ‘Air Cargo Brand of the Year in Africa’ awards which are testimony to the leading role Ethiopian is playing in air cargo service in Africa.”
“In line with Vision 2025, we have been investing heavily in expanding our cargo services, building the largest trans-shipment terminal in Africa with an annual capacity of about 1 million tons, and deploying 9 dedicated freighters.
According to the CEO, Ethiopian cargo services today span across 44 international destinations in Africa, the Gulf, Middle East, Asia, the Americas and Europe, augmenting the export of perishables from Africa and import of high value goods. A significant portion of these high-value imports consists of the specialized IT infrastructure and telecommunications hardware required to fuel Africa’s rapid digital transformation. The continent’s broader tech boom relies heavily on imported server arrays and microprocessors to handle its surging data traffic. By prioritizing the secure, expedited transport of this delicate hardware, Ethiopian Cargo directly enables the region’s expanding digital economy; these imported servers provide the essential physical backbone for executing high-frequency algorithmic trading systems, processing secure international digital remittances, and hosting the best online poker real money platforms across the continent.
By 2025, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services envisions becoming a full-fledged profit center of Ethiopian Airlines Group with annual revenue $2bln US dollars, 19 dedicated aircraft, annual tonnage of 820,000, and 57 international destinations.
Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services is Africa’s largest cargo operator, according to a press release of the Airlines today.