Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia have jointly called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to lift an arms embargo imposed in Somalia to enable the country to shoulder its security responsibilities.
In a joint communique issued on Friday, the two heads of state called on the UN Security Council to consider the Somalian government’s request for the lifting of the arms embargo imposed on the country for more than 30 years.
In January 1992, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted, Resolution 733, which imposed an arms embargo on Somalia in reaction to the violence and deteriorating humanitarian situation.
The two leaders argued that – the lifting of the arms embargo – would ensure Somalia is sufficiently equipped to effectively address the security threat posed by the Al Shabab terrorist group.
The joint call comes at the end of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s two-day official visit to Ethiopia.
According to a statement issued by the Office of the Ethiopian Prime Minister, the two leaders discussed various issues of mutual and regional concerns ranging from cooperation to overcoming threats of terrorism and extremism to bilateral economic cooperation.
The two leaders “agreed to work on specific priorities while taking into account the need to focus on key common issues paramount to the relationship of the two countries.”
Both sides agreed to nurture and strengthen the longstanding bilateral ties and relations between the two countries and peoples based on respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty.
They reiterated to effectively collaborate in the fight against the common enemy, terrorism and extremism and directed their respective security agencies to strengthen existing mechanisms of cooperation and intelligence exchange.
The two sides reaffirmed the need to work together to minimize the effects of undue external Interferences that could potentially undermine their joint effort for peace and stability In the region and for the effective combat of terrorism.
To this effect, they have agreed to hold regular bilateral consultations and to collaborate in multilateral and regional forums to promote their common national interests on the basis of mutual respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two countries.
Furthermore, both leaders emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in the areas of trade, economy and infrastructure as well as communications in addition to the well-established political and security collaborations.
In this regard, they have also directed the respective government offices to hold the Joint Ministerial Commission in a rotating manner as soon as possible, to discuss and set directions and implementation mechanisms on issues of mutual interest
The leaders noted that the two countries and the sub-region at large are facing recurrent drought and other multifaceted natural disasters induced by climate change, threatening the livelihoods of millions of people in the region to overcome these challenges.
They called on international partners to continue extending support to the affected communities including in the area of building long-term livelihood resilience.
Both Leaders applaud the recent successful offensive by the Somalia National Army (SNA) against AI Shabab in the regions of Hiraan and Galmudug.
The leaders further paid tribute to the Ethiopian Defense Forces, who paid the ultimate sacrifice for peace, stability and nation-building in Somalia.
During their discussions, the two leaders were accompanied by high-level officials from the two countries.
Source: Sudan Tribune