Leaders of Egypt, South Africa Congratulate PM Abiy

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa have extended warm congratulations to Dr. Abiy Ahmed on being chosen to lead the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and his subsequent swearing-in as Prime Minister.

In his phone call to PM Abiy, President El-Sisi expressed his belief that the diplomatic and economic relation of Egypt and Ethiopia would further be strengthened.

Prime Minister Abiy on his part congratulated President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for being reelected as Egypt's President.

According to the Spokesperson of the Office of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he also assured El-Sisi that Ethiopia exert more effort to further consolidate its cooperation and relationship with Egypt as it gives due emphasis to ties with Egypt.

President Ramaphosa of South Africa also congratulated Dr. Abiy Ahmed on his being elected as Chairperson of EPRDF and Prime Minster.

President Ramaphosa said: “Your election is a vote of confidence in your leadership by the various parties of the ruling coalition and holds the hope that a stable leadership transition and the widening of political dialogue can open the way to peaceful development in the country.”

Horn Diplomat reported that Ethiopia plays a leading role in the African continent, not only as the seat of the African Union, but as a historic beacon of the values of freedom and sovereignty as embodied in the life of late Nelson Mandela, whose centenary we celebrate this year.

The interests of the countries and people of Africa remain at the top of South Africa’s strategic priorities, as evidenced by the commitment to forging closer cooperation with Ethiopia displayed by discussions during the recent South Africa-Ethiopia Senior Officials Meeting in March 2018.

“I look forward to working with you, Mr. Prime Minister, to further strengthen the strong bilateral relations between our two countries, focusing on economic cooperation for the mutual benefit of our respective countries and peoples,” President Ramaphosa concluded.