(08-10-23) MOGADISHU — In a significant diplomatic gesture, Somali President Hassan Sheikh arrived in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, on Sunday. He was warmly welcomed by his Eritrean counterpart, President Isaias Afwerki. This visit marks President Hassan Sheikh’s fourth trip to Eritrea since he assumed office in May of last year.
The diplomatic visit comes as President Hassan Sheikh intensifies his campaign against the Islamist extremist group, Al-Shabaab. Leading operations in Dhusamareeb for the past two months, he has now delegated the task of ramping up conflict efforts in Galmudug state to its President, Ahmed Abdi Kariye Qorqor, according to an official press release.
Accompanying President Hassan Sheikh is Amb. Omar Idris, set to become the first Ambassador of Somalia to Asmara. This move signals the strengthening of diplomatic relations between the Horn of Africa nations.
Eritrea has significantly contributed to the training of Somali soldiers, with over 5,000 troops having received training in the country over the last two years. The first group was repatriated to Somalia in December 2022. With Somalia planning to assume all security responsibilities from African Union troops by December next year, the Eritrea-trained forces are expected to fill the gaps left by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
Halqabsi News
