Tuesday March 19, 2024
Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and visiting Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held bilateral talks in Asmara, the Eritrea’s capital.
During the “extensive” meeting on Sunday, the two leaders discussed regional issues, including Somalia’s fight against militants, Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Meskel posted on X.
Talks on “important regional and global topics” also featured in their meeting, state-owned Somali National News Agency said, without providing more details.
This was President Mohamud’s second visit to Eritrea this year and the sixth since he came to power in May 2022, highlighting the strong relations between the two countries.
President Mohamud last visited Asmara in January amid tension with neighbouring Ethiopia over a port deal between Addis Ababa and the self-declared republic of Somaliland. The deal is contested by the Somali government.
A video shared on X (formerly Twitter) shows President Isaias and visiting President Mohamud strolling in the streets of Asmara, with residents cheering and taking pictures.
Eritrea has been training thousands of Somali soldiers to boost the Somali army as African Union troops are expected to withdraw from the Horn of Africa country at the end of this year.