Ethiopia, Uganda commit to support South Sudan, Somalia
Jul 25, 2011
ETHIOPIA and Uganda have set up a joint ministerial commission to support South Sudan and expand joint security activities in the volatile Somalia.
By Cyprian Musoke
ETHIOPIA and Uganda have set up a joint ministerial commission to support South Sudan and expand joint security activities in the volatile Somalia.
While signing the agreement to establish the commission, Ethiopian deputy Prime Minister Ato Hailemariam Desalegn said there were many mutual benefits from the cooperation.
The agreement was signed at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Saturday.
The commission was agreed upon between President Yoweri Museveni and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in 2010.
“We have made considerable progress, but the challenge Somalia poses for our region and the continent at large remains centred on the activities of al-Shabaab,†Desalegn said.
Ensuring the viability and freedom of the new state of South Sudan, he added, would call for economic, political, and security cooperation in a regional context.
“Viable peace and security for South Sudan is critical to Ethiopia, Uganda and the whole region at large. Any setback to its stability will have a real impact on the region,†Desalegn said.
He pledged cooperation in agriculture, health, education, investment, culture and tourism as well as training and experience sharing. Desalegn lauded the close working relationship between the presidents of the two countries.
He also pledged to convince more countries to sign the new Nile Basin cooperative agreement and work towards a common understanding on terrorism concerns on the continent. Uganda’s foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa said signing the joint permanent commission testifies the renewed impetus between the two governments to bring their people closer.
“We also stand to benefit from dealing with destabilising terrorism activities in the region, as well as on issues of peace, security, human and drug trafficking and money laundering,†he said.
Most ministers from both countries
attended the event.
ETHIOPIA and Uganda have set up a joint ministerial commission to support South Sudan and expand joint security activities in the volatile Somalia.
While signing the agreement to establish the commission, Ethiopian deputy Prime Minister Ato Hailemariam Desalegn said there were many mutual benefits from the cooperation.
The agreement was signed at Speke Resort Munyonyo on Saturday.
The commission was agreed upon between President Yoweri Museveni and Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in 2010.
“We have made considerable progress, but the challenge Somalia poses for our region and the continent at large remains centred on the activities of al-Shabaab,†Desalegn said.
Ensuring the viability and freedom of the new state of South Sudan, he added, would call for economic, political, and security cooperation in a regional context.
“Viable peace and security for South Sudan is critical to Ethiopia, Uganda and the whole region at large. Any setback to its stability will have a real impact on the region,†Desalegn said.
He pledged cooperation in agriculture, health, education, investment, culture and tourism as well as training and experience sharing. Desalegn lauded the close working relationship between the presidents of the two countries.
He also pledged to convince more countries to sign the new Nile Basin cooperative agreement and work towards a common understanding on terrorism concerns on the continent. Uganda’s foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa said signing the joint permanent commission testifies the renewed impetus between the two governments to bring their people closer.
“We also stand to benefit from dealing with destabilising terrorism activities in the region, as well as on issues of peace, security, human and drug trafficking and money laundering,†he said.
Most ministers from both countries
attended the event.