Ruto arrives in Somalia for regional States Summit
President William Ruto arrived in Somalia on Wednesday to attend the Somalia-Frontline States Summit.
Regional leaders including Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Djibouti’s Ismael Ghuelleh have also arrived for the one-day summit.
The three leaders were welcomed by Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud upon their arrival.
The summit, according to the Somali government, is aimed at enhancing regional security and eliminating international terrorism for the betterment of the region.
The leaders are expected to discuss a number of issues including supporting the operations against terrorists being carried out by the Somali government forces assisted by local vigilante groups.
Defence ministers and chiefs of defence forces of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti, also known as Somalia’s frontline states are in Mogadishu ahead of the summit.
Somalia’s Minister for Information, Daud Aweys, stated that the meeting will initiate a unified strategy among the Horn of Africa frontline states.
“This meeting is momentous because the current security situation of Somalia also affects Somalia’s neighbouring countries,” he added.
The defence ministers and army chiefs will set the agenda to be discussed by the heads of state and the governments of the frontline nations.
“Somalia hosts defence ministers and army commanders of the frontline states from Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia, focusing on adopting a common regional security position, especially in the fight against Al-Shabaab,” Aweys said.