Kenya and Ethiopia pledge to uphold regional peace, stability
Kenyan President William Ruto and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met on Wednesday at State House Nairobi, where they reaffirmed their commitment to respecting each other's sovereignties and territorial boundaries.
The agreement, seen as a significant development for the Horn of Africa region, underscores the importance of maintaining peace, security, and stability as essential drivers of economic growth and development, the East African reports.
While the joint communiqué did not directly address the ongoing tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia over the memorandum of understanding signed with Somaliland, observers view the agreement as a potential diplomatic breakthrough. Somalia has demanded the withdrawal of the MoU, considering it a violation of its territorial integrity.
Abiy's visit to Nairobi, his first since 2018, coincided with a visit by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to the UN Environmental Assembly. Although it remained uncertain whether Abiy and Mohamud would meet face-to-face, the visit aimed to address unresolved issues and enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, health, fisheries, and transport.
The meeting also served as a platform for Ethiopia to address concerns over internal rebellions and human rights violations, particularly criticism from Western countries regarding the detention of journalists.
