By: Staff Editor
Days ago, Ethiopia and Somalia have come to terms to take their historic bilateral relations into a new height. Their renewed agreement, according to analysts, would play grand roles further bringing the two nations and their respective peoples stand in unison for common destiny. Today as well, Prime minister of Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has also arrived in Somalia where he received a warm welcome from the Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Last Sunday, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, chief of staff of Ethiopian Defense forces led a high level delegation where he discussed bilateral ties and Ethiopia’s role in the African Union mission following a recent meeting between leaders of the two countries in Addis Ababa. This signals the long standing bilateral relations between the two neighborly countries.
Over the decades back, when international terrorist groups such as the Islamic Courts Union, Al-Shabaab, and ISIS posed a threat to the people of Somalia and the countries of the region, Ethiopia instantly demonstrated its commitment beyond neighborliness by deploying a large number of security forces in international peacekeeping missions and as a country.
The Ethiopian security forces have made significant contributions in the process of confronting international terrorist groups operating in the country and weakening their capabilities. In this way, they have created a friendship that will always be remembered in history, saving the Somali people from the terrible harm that terrorist groups could inflict on them.
The Ethiopian peacekeeping in Somali, as witnessed by stakeholders, have been able to eliminate the Islamic Courts Union, which was once a threat to Somalia and the region, and to establish relative peace among the people of the country and the region by fighting Al-Shabaab, which was founded on the ruins of the Islamic Courts Union and is still a threat to peace and security in East Africa.
This is a successful mission accompanied by sacrifices by the Ethiopian army, which has gained recognition not only by Somalis but also by the international community; it is believed that it will create better trust for the future comprehensive strategic relationship between the peoples of the country.
Historical records indicate that the peoples of Ethiopia and Somalia have lived together as brothers for centuries, beyond being neighbors. They are also linked by culture and religion; their economic interaction is interwoven, all believed to have a positive impact for their future common destiny; and if their neighborliness kept its tempo , vast opportunities are in sight both to the respective nations and the horn entirely.