This is the first time Puntland President has traveled abroad since he was elected in early January.
Hiiraan Online
By Shafi’i Mohyaddin
Monday, February 24, 2014
The new president of the semiautonomous Somali regional state of Puntland has on Sunday travelled to Ethiopia on an official tour which is the first of its kind since President Abdi Weli Mohamed Ali Gaas came to power in January this year.
Before departure, the president who talked to the media at the airport in Garowe, said that his travel to Ethiopia was mainly about holding meetings with Ethiopian leaders, saying that his visit will take five days.
“Today we are travelling to Ethiopia on an official invitation. During my stay in Ethiopia, I will hold talks with Ethiopian officials, including the prime minister and we will discuss issues relating to the bilateral ties between Puntland and Ethiopia,” the regional leader told the media at the airport on Sunday.
He said the talks will focus on how both sides will develop co-operations in terms of security and commerce.
The president is accompanied by Interior Minister Ahmed Elmi Osman, Information Minister Abdi Weli Hersi Abdulle, the Commander of Puntland forces General Said Mohamed Hersi, and other top officials.
Abdiweli Mohamed Ali travel to Ethiopia comes a week after the prime minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Abdi Weli Sheik, toured Ethiopia where he held meetings with his Ethiopian counterpart and other officials in the Addis Ababa government.
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