Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea leaders to meet in Asmara

ASMARA, Eritrea - Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed and Somali President are due to hold a meeting in Eritrea with President Isaias Afwerki on Monday as ties between the countries continued to grow since 2018, Garowe Online reports.

The talks between the three leaders are aimed at strengthening ties in the Horn of African region. The trio will discuss a “wide range of issues.”

“I will be meeting with my brothers, the leaders of Eritrea and Somalia. President Isaias Afwerki, President Mohammed Abdullahi and I will discuss a wide range of issues. As always, I am certain our dear and welcoming city of Asmara will make our stay delightful,” PM Abiy said on Twitter.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed arrived in Asmara in the late afternoon hours on Sunday. The Prime Minister and his delegation, which include Defence Minister Lemma Megersa, were accorded a warm welcome by President Isaias Afwerki on arrival at Asmara International Airport.

"The two leaders will discuss further enhancement of bilateral ties and joint partnership schemes during the current visit of the Prime Minister. They will further be joined by Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed tomorrow for a Tripartite Summit," said Yemane G. Meskel, Eritrea's Information Minister.

Abiy made peace with Eritrea last year to end 20 years of conflict, an act of great courage that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize win in 2019.

The Ethiopian premier who took office in April 2018 has met with President Afwerki and Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo several both in Addis Ababa and in Asmara.

GAROWE ONLINE