Addis Ababa (MFASomalia) – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Mr. Abshir Omar Jama, participated in the 42nd Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council, held in Addis Ababa between 15-16 February, chaired by the Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Madame Aissata Tall Sall.
The session discussed draft projects and decisions, including the food and humanitarian crisis, the establishment and operationalisation of the Africa Medicines Agency (AMA), the acceleration of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), and many other items, where the African Union foreign ministers declared during their meeting their full solidarity with the governments and peoples of Turkey and Syria, due to the terrible tragedy caused by the recent devastating earthquake that led to the death of more than 30 thousand people, the injury of hundreds of thousands, and the displacement of thousands.
On the sidelines of the session, the Somali Foreign Minister held bilateral meetings with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, H.E. Mr. Demeke Mekonnen, the Cabinet Secretary of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, Dr. Alfred Nganga Mutua, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uganda, Honorable Gen. Odongo Jeje Abubakhar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad of Algeria, H.E. Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Rwanda, H.E. Mr. Vincent Biruta, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria , H.E. Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana, Hon. Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Comoros, H.E. Mr. Dhoihir Dhoulkamal.
The Foreign Minister discussed with his counterparts the strengthening of bilateral relations and joint cooperation, as well as joint coordination on several political issues.