Eritrea, Somalia Sign 7 Articles

BY VOA SOMALIA

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has today concluded a four-day visit to Eritrea. During his stay, President Hassan Sheikh, accompanied by President Afwerki, visited Somali troops undergoing training for three years and several development projects in the country.

Before leaving the country, President Hassan and his Eritrean counterpart Isaias Afwerki signed amemorandum of understanding, which was published on thewebsiteof the Eritrean Ministry of Information, and the two Presidents agreed on the following:

1)Strengthening relations between the two peoples, including communities diaspora.

2)Strengthen political and diplomatic cooperation, in order to safeguard and promote their national interests.

3)Expanding economic and social cooperation with a focus on trade, investment, water security, agriculture, fisheries, health and education.

4)Promoting cooperation in the fields of culture, arts, sports activities as well as science and technology.

5)Promoting cooperation to protect and enhance the environment and address natural disasters and epidemics.

6)Strengthening defense and security cooperation to maintain peace, stability and security.

7)To work together for the development of friendly relations, cooperation and economic integration in the Horn of Africa.

Eritrea-Somalia Joint Statement on the Visit of H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to Eritrea

(SHABAIT) – At the invitation of H.E. Isaias Afwerki, President of the State of Eritrea, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, paid an official state visit to Eritrea from July 9-12, 2022.

The visit underscored the historic fraternal ties and mutual solidarity between the peoples of Eritrea and Somalia.

During his stay, and accompanied by President Isaias, President Hassan Sheikh toured development projects in the Southern and Red Sea Regions of Eritrea with a particular focus on water security and management, agriculture, dairy production, green energy, and infrastructural development.

A highlight of President Hassan Sheikh’s stay was his visit to the members of the National Army of Somalia who has been undertaking military training in Eritrea. In his address to the trainees, he congratulated them on their training, appraised them of Somalia’s huge potential and key priorities and expressed his confidence that they will make a significant contribution to the peace, security, and development of their nation.

President Isaias and his brother, President Hassan Sheikh held extensive, cordial discussions focusing on the situation of their countries, bilateral relations as well as regional matters. Based on their convergent views, the two leaders agreed to bolster political, diplomatic, security, economic, social, and cultural cooperation between Eritrea and Somalia.

President Isaias and President Hassan Sheikh further agreed that Eritrea and Somalia would work in concert to foster peace, stability, cooperation, and regional economic integration in the Horn of Africa.

At the conclusion of the visit, the two leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding between Eritrea and Somalia.

On behalf of the people and Government of Eritrea, President Isaias expressed deep gratitude to his brother, President Hassan Sheikh for his timely and important visit.

President Hassan thanked the people and Government of Eritrea and his brother President Isaias for their warm fraternal welcome and brotherly hospitality.

Asmara, 12 July 2022