- The newly-elected president of Somaliland, Musa Bihi Abd, held an
audience with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn and a slew
of Ethiopian government officials highlighting the importance of the
relationship in areas of security, economic, trade engagement and
educational cooperation.
“Ethiopia is working aggressively to dismantle Al-Shabaab from the
surrounding regions since it’s our common enemy,” Prime Minister
Hailemariam stated.
“We have already started developing infrastructure
in the corridor to facilitate the growing import-export trade of
Ethiopia.” The Ethiopian leader also added that it would strengthen the
nations move for a closer economic cooperation.
Despite a working government and a strong economy, the autonomous
region of Somaliland continues to have difficulties in its recognition
attempt to be known as a sovereign nation.
“Somaliland is not an emerging nation, we are an old country. We just
celebrated our 100th anniversary,” Seid Shire (PhD), said the Foreign
Minister of Somaliland. “We are a peaceful, stable and democratic
country in all of Africa. We just concluded a free and fair election. We
deserve to be recognized as a state.”
Despite some of the noted successes of Somaliland, it faces
continuous challenges on security mostly from Al-Shabaab and others. It
also has a vulnerable healthcare and education system.
With a partnership with foreign investors, specifically from the
United Arab Emirates, it inaugurated the Berbera Port at a cost of USD
442 million. Ethiopia obtained a 19 percent share of the port in 2017.
It was envisioned that the new port will be used as a regional trading
hub. Ethiopia has also granted hundreds generous scholarships to
Somaliland citizens at various public universities around the nation.
Source:- Reporter
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