SEE – July 30th: Eritrea and Somalia have agreed today to restore diplomatic relations, an official said Monday, in another thaw in the restive Horn of Africa region, AP reported.
Eritrea's information minister announced the agreement on Twitter as Somalia's president ended a historic three-day visit to one of the world's most closed-off nations. There was no immediate comment from Somalia's government.
The countries have not had diplomatic ties for nearly 15 years. Eritrea remains under United Nations sanctions for allegedly supporting the Somalia-based al-Shabab extremist group. Eritrea denies it.
"Eritrea & Somalia will work in unison to foster regional peace, stability & economic integration," information minister Yemane Meskel said. He added: "Eritrea strongly supports the political independence, sovereignty & territorial integrity of Somalia."
The visit by Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, at the invitation of longtime President Isaias Afwerki, follows a stunning diplomatic thaw between Eritrea and neighboring Ethiopia after more than two decades. Ethiopia under reformist new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has asked that the sanctions on Eritrea be dropped.
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