Algeria’s New Envoy to Ethiopia Takes Office

ADDIS ABABA – The newly appointed Ambassador of Algeria to Ethiopia Mohammed Lamine Laabas has officially assumed office today.

Ethiopian Foreign Ministry’s chief of protocol affairs Demeke Atnafu welcomed Ambassador Mohammed and received a copy of his credential letter.

Mohammed assumed his ambassadorial role in the same year the two countries stepped up their high-level relationships.

Last July, President Sahlework Zewde visited Algiers to attend the 60th Independence Day celebration of Algeria.

The following month, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also met with Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune on strengthening bilateral ties during his official visit to the North African nation.

In his welcoming remarks, Chief of Protocol Demeke mentioned the importance of the partnership the two countries have in the political, economic, and social sectors.

He also took the opportunity to explain to the ambassador the peace agreement between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the TPLF as well as the ongoing efforts to provide unfettered humanitarian aid and restore services to conflict-affected areas.

Demeke also reiterated Ethiopia’s firm position in ensuring a win-win outcome in the GERD negotiations guided by the maxim “African solutions to African problems.”

On his part, Ambassador Mohammed appreciated the peace deal in Pretoria and affirmed his country’s desire to strengthen the relationship with Ethiopia with expanded engagements in various sectors.

Both sides noted that Ethiopia and Algeria should explore opportunities that enhance mutual benefit and cooperation in various sectors, according to MoFA.

Algeria is one of the key strategic partners of Ethiopia since the two nations established diplomatic relations in the late 1960s. The two countries signed more than 20 cooperation agreements in different fields, including trade, investment protection and promotion, and avoidance of double taxation.