Toronto – Ethiopia and Kenya on Wednesday signed seven Memorandum of Understandings in the Kenyan Capital Nairobi aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two countries. As reported earlier, Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed was on a three day official visit to Kenya as the country was also hosting the sixth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA6).
The Government of Kenya’s State House on Wednesday reported that the areas of cooperation for the two countries are ” cultural development, tourism and wildlife, the blue economy, correctional services, petroleum and energy development, and capacity building in the public service.”
The two countries aspire to enhance trade and investment.
Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed and Kenyan President William Ruto have “committed to leverage on the cordial relations between the two nations to enhance trade and investment,” Kenyan state house reported.
William Ruto sees strengthening the relationship between the two countries as important to “boost their quest for rapid economic transformation and shared prosperity.”
The State House quoted him as saying ““I believe that we are now ready to take the next step in making the Kenya-Ethiopia partnership a beacon of transformative possibility and a force of good in our region and our continent.”
The memorandum of understanding that Abiy Ahmed’s administration signed with Somaliland on January 1, 2024 has stirred tension in the Horn of Africa as Somalia has accused Ethiopia of violating its Sovereignty. Somalian president arrives in Kenya on Wednesday as Abiy Ahmed was on an official visit but no information so far if Kenyan President William Ruto attempted a mediation effort.
The relation with Eritrea which appeared positive soon after Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018 to the point that it “earned him” a Nobel Peace Prize for ending two decades of no-peace-no-war situation has collapsed. Eritrea and Somalia have forged an alliance for several years now which manifested itself – among other things – in the form of military cooperation. Eritrea has trained thousands of Somalian troops in the past few years.
Ethiopia’s relation with Sudan is not in good condition either after Sudan invaded Ethiopia’s territory following what Abiy Ahmed’s government called a “law enforcement operation” in the Tigray region of Ethiopia against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in November 2020.
As things stand now, Kenya seems to be the only neutral country with a positive working relation with Ethiopia. The latter exports electric power to Kenya earning millions of dollars every year.
Abiy Ahmed on Friday headed to Tanzania for an official state visit after completing his visit to Kenya.
