The Governments of Ethiopia and Somalia urge the UN Security Council to lift the arms embargo imposed on Somalia for over three decades.
The two governments made the plea in their joint statement issued on Thursday after Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud concluded his two days visit in Ethiopia. During his visit President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia has met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia who received him at Bole International Airport on Wednesday.
The Leaders “call upon the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to consider the request of the Federal Governments of Somalia for the lifting of the arms embargo imposed on the country for more than 30 years to ensure that Somalia is sufficiently equipped to effectively address the security threat posed by the Al Shabab terrorist groups,” according to the joint statement shared by the Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
It is stated that during the course of the visit, the two leaders held bilateral discussions, accompanied by high level officials from the two countries.
“They raised and discussed various issues of mutual and regional concerns ranging from collaboration to overcoming threats of terrorism and extremism to bilateral economic cooperation. The two leaders agreed to work on specific priorities while considering the need to focus on key common issues paramount to the relationship of the two countries,” the Office said.
In addition to the call on UNSC to lift arms embargo on Somalia, the two leaders have also agreed on the following nine points.
1. Agreed to nurture and strengthen the longstanding bilateral ties and relationships between the two countries and peoples based on respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of both countries.
2. Paid tribute to the gallant Ethiopian Defense Forces. who paid the ultimate sacrifice for peace, stability and nation building in Somalia.
3. Reiterated their resolve to effectively collaborate in the fight against their common enemy, terrorism and extremism and directed their respective security agencies to strengthen existing mechanisms of cooperation and agreed to exchange intelligence.
4. Both Leaders applaud the recent successful offensive by the SNA against Al Shabab in the regions of Hiraan and Galmudug.
5. Emphasized the need to work together, minimize the effects of undue external interferences that could potentially undermine their joint effort for peace and stability in the region and effectively combat 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.
6. 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 the peoples of the region. They emphasized in this regard, the imperative to collaborate and the need to redouble efforts to overcome these challenges. They also called upon international partners to continue to support affected communities including in the area of building long term livelihood resilience.
7. The leaders agreed to increase scholarships and trainings granted by Ethiopia for the civil servants and security forces of the Federal Republic of Somalia with a view to enhancing the implementation capacity of government agencies.
8. The two 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.
9. Directed the respective government offices to hold the Joint Ministerial Commission in rotating manner in the soonest possible time, to discuss and set directions and implementation mechanisms on issues of mutual interest.