The Somali National Regional State and Puntland State of Somalia sign Memorandum of Understanding
The Somali National Regional State and Puntland State of Somalia signed an all encompassing Memorandum of Understanding on 28th June in Dire Dawa. It was signed on the occasion of the visit by a high level committee of Puntland State of Somalia led by Vice President Abdi Samad Ali Shire. The Ethiopian side in the discussion was led by Dr. Tekeda Alemu, State Minister for Foreign Affairs. The delegations of both sides held extensive discussions on issues of mutual concern as well as on creating a framework for collaboration in the fields of security, trade and combating illegal activities along their common borders.
In this regard, they agreed to establish a Joint Intelligence and Security Committee led by the officials of Puntland State of Somalia and the Somali National Regional Government at the highest level to ensure frequent and regular follow up and to achieve a level of response commensurate with the challenges in the areas. The committee will meet in the Somali National Regional State and Puntland alternately. The committee will establish, as it deems necessary, various sub committees including those at the border areas. The committees at the border areas will exchange information frequently. The committee held its meeting and drew up its terms of reference and plan of action.
The two parties agreed to exchange information at all levels to ensure the peace and stability of people as well as a smooth movement of goods and services and have agreed to appoint focal points for coordination. The two parties agreed to cooperate to control human and arms trafficking, money laundering and illegal drugs as well as control contraband trade and other illegal trade activities. They have designated Buhodle, Dhudub and Bokh as the three entry points for legal movement of goods and services. They also agreed all trade activities would be conducted in accordance with the laws and in line with the applicable guidelines.
Both sides agreed that there would be expanded cooperation most particularly in the economic, trade and security sectors between the Puntland State of Somalia and the Somali National Regional State. The two sides underlined that contacts that Puntland State of Somalia has with Ethiopia at the Federal level cannot replace the indispensable and vital relationship of cooperation and diverse activities between Puntland State of Somalia and the Somali National Regional State. The two sides affirmed their commitment to cooperating in good faith with each other in protecting the interests of each other in the security area so that those who seek to undermine the two sides, most particularly through terrorist activities and extremism would not succeed. The two sides agreed to fight against the terrorist groups ONLF, Al-Shabab and other groups that are used as instruments to undermine the Region's development endeavours and the peace and security of Puntland.
The high level Puntland delegation also visited the development endeavours of the people and government of the Somali National Regional State. It also attended a graduation ceremony organised for members of the United Western Somali Liberation Front, who were given training on the Ethiopian Constitution, Foreign and Security and other policies of the Ethiopian government in the economic social and political sectors.