Abiy, Hamdok Hold Talks over ‘Issues of Mutual Interest’

ADDIS ABEBA – Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed and his Sudanese counterpart, Abdullah Hamdok, have held on Sunday discussions on bilateral and issues of mutual interest.

Prime Minister Hamdok, who is accompanied by Sudanese security officials, arrived at Ethiopia’s capital on Sunday morning. Abiy, who welcomed Hamdok at Addis Abeba Bole International Airport, held talks with the Sudanese prime Minister and his delegation at his office.

After the talks, he tweeted that he had had good discussions with the Sudanese delegation,”during which we reached an understanding on various issues that will further augment cooperation between our two countries”.

Khartoum has also reiterated its solidarity with Addis Abeba in the law enforcement operations the federal government has been undertaking in Tigray, a region that shares a border with Sudan, according to the PM office, and recalled the support of Ethiopia during Sudan’s time of need.

– Border Security –

“The discussions between the two leaders concluded with an understanding on several issues of mutual interest,” Abiy’s office said in a statement. The statement did not delve into specifics.

Before his departure to Addis Abeba, Hamdok said he planned to present his country’s political, humanitarian and security concerns along its border with Tigray region, where Ethiopia federal army recently conducted a law enforcement military operation.

The government carried out the operation in the region after forces of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) conducted deadly attacks on federal army bases located in the region on Nov. 4, 2020.

Hamdok’s visit to Ethiopia came two weeks after the government declared the military operation in the region concluded. The fight, however, forced nearly 50,000 of people to flee to Sudan in addition to many more internally displaced, according to U.N. estimates.

Reports say the influx of refugees adds to Sudan’s economic and security burdens.

Earlier this week, Ethiopia said the protection and security of all citizens “remains an essential priority of the federal government and added it is closely working with aid agencies “to extend protection and humanitarian assistance to those who are impacted” by the law the recent operation.