Somali, Eritrean, Ethiopian FMs visit Djibouti for peace talks

DJIBOUTI - A joint high-level delegation led by foreign affairs ministers of Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea paid a historic visit to Djibouti on Thursday amid calls on Djibouti and Eritrea to bury their hatchet, Garowe Online reports.

The visit came following a tripartite meeting in Asmara between Somalia president, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, his Eritrean counterpart Isaias Afwerki and the Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday.

The Ethiopian, Eritrean and Somali Foreign Ministers, Workneh Gebeyehu, Osman Saleh and Ahmed Issa Awad, respectively, held talks with their Djiboutian counterpart Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.

The ministers traveled to Djibouti to advance dialogue between Eritrea and Djibouti.

Thursday's visit is the first initiative of the Joint High-Level Committee established by the leaders of Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea at the tripartite summit held in Asmara yesterday.

Fana reported that the ministers also met President Ismail Omar Guelleh.

According to Eritrea's Information Minister, Yemane G. Meskel Foreign Minister Osman Saleh conveyed President Isaias's greetings to President Ismail Omar Guelleh and underlined that "this is the season for peace in the Horn of Africa and this peace should be inclusive to all".

"President Ismail Omar Guelleh thanked President Isaias Afwerki, and also Ethiopia & Somalia for z visit to Djibouti today by the Joint High Level Committee composed of the three Foreign Ministers. He stated that Djibouti is ready for reconciliation and formalization of its ties with Eritrea," he added. 

GAROWE ONLINE