Somalia’s President cuts short Ethiopia visit

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo (left) and Hailemariam Desalegn

ESAT News (May 4, 2017)

Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo cut short his official visit to Ethiopia after the death of his younger minister.

The 31-year-old minister, Abbas Abdullahi Sheik Siraji, was killed when his car was targeted by government forces who mistook him for a militant.

Following the news of the death of the minister, president Farmajo announced he was cutting short his visit to Ethiopia and return to Mogadishu to mourn with his people.

The president called an investigation into the killing and described the young minister as “young, diligent and intelligent.”

Meanwhile, at a joint press conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn said his country consults Somalia in its dealings with the self declared autonomous regions of Somaliland and Puntland.

Somalia considers the two autonomous regions as part and parcel of the mainland.

The President’s visit to Addis Ababa came as Ethiopia withdrew its troops from key position citing lack of funds from the international community. But political analysts believe Farmajo and his aides are strongly against the presence of Ethiopian troops.

Ethiopian authorities have also been said to have supported opponents of Farmajo in his election bid to become the President.