Concept

Enhancing and Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation

 

Overview

 

Somalia and Ethiopia are both on a new precipice. The leadership of both countries is dynamic, youthful, energetic and espouse the Pan African vision. There is an exceptional opportunity for the leaders of both countries to work together for the benefit of both countries. For decades the cooperation between Somalia and Ethiopia was based on mostly national security interest. In todays’ world, Somalia and Ethiopia’s interests are inextricably linked. The leadership of the two countries are poised to take bold but calculated steps to bring the countries together but also to improve the lives and livelihoods of their peoples.

 

We hereby outline the approach through which to achieve this desired end state;

 

I.            Economic Cooperation

 

Somalia possesses vast natural resources tapped and untapped. From fisheries to oil and gas, the potential in Somalia is enormous. In addition to the natural assets, the Somali people are natural entrepreneurs and though there was a lack of government, Somalis continued to grow wealth and, in some areas, they could compete with other parts of the world. In order to strengthen the relationship between Ethiopia and Somalia, we need to bring our communities together and to be able to invest on either side of the border. That will make us even stronger stakeholders in both countries. In the interconnected world, wealth creation has no borders. Somalia and Ethiopia complement one another, both economically and geographically. We should therefore use, economic growth, and business development as a way of creating the 21^st century for Somalia and Ethiopia.

 

Fishing and establishing fishery related factories is a potential investment area for Somalia as the vast coastline in the continent, such investment on fisheries, marine life, can be linked to the huge market in Ethiopia.

 

Electricity in Somalia is the most expensive in the entire region, as the country still operates with generators or small HFO machines. Ethiopia can access the Somali market to provide electricity to all Somalia. There are already existing companies that provide electricity, but they require partners to further develop their businesses. Alternatively, the two governments can work together on such investment.

 

Banking and telecommunications are other areas that our business community are heavily involved in and we can explore the possibilities of Somali Investment in Ethiopia,

 

The Chamber of Commerce in Ethiopia has large number of members, long experience, and wider network. Close cooperation and experience sharing between the Chambers of Commerce in Ethiopia and Somalia boost trade relation between the two counties,

 

Livelihood and agriculture,

 

Developing water streams and water catchment systems along the Juba and Shabelle river lines must be mutually beneficial to both countries. Somalia can therefore make use of the Ethiopian great experience in big irrigation schemes.  Heavy machines produced in Ethiopia as an input to the agricultural industry may also be of good use to the Somali farmers.

 

Infrastructure and Service industry

 

Both countries need to invest in developing heavy infrastructure projects such as high way roads, and manufacturing industries as well as import and exporting.

 

Regarding services, both countries will benefit from free entry and movement of people, goods and service, while access to markets and incentives will unite the two business communities.

 

To enable tangible economic exchange for both communities an aviation cooperation must be initiated and Ethiopian airline has to open up its routes to

Mogadishu, this will allow Somali diaspora to access Somalia more often while Ethiopian airline will benefit from the new route business.

 

Telecommunications in Ethiopia have been the fast expanding in Africa while

Somalia’s telecommunication system managed to build private technologies, connecting the two experiences will help in a joint African programming on that sector.

 

 

II.             Security

This has been the main area of cooperation between Somalia and Ethiopia. Through the African Union Mission in Somalia and also independently, ENDF continue to support the peacebuilding efforts in Somalia. We would propose a continuation and extension of this support in the below areas;

 

1. Assistance to eliminate AS from remaining areas of occupation and the Juba valley
2. Capacity building of our forces, training and equipping
3. Build joint teams to improve military and intelligence cooperation.

 

III.             Regional Cooperation

The two countries will form a joint cooperation committee to maintain common understanding on security, political and economic, while the committee will enable the leaders of the two countries strengthen relations it will also create joint understanding on regional issues but it will also allow Somalia to change it is past narrative.

 

III. Capacity Building

One area of cooperation for a long lasting benefit to the Somali people is building the capacity of the Somali civil service.

1. The capacity building scheme can be carried out in two forms:
   • Ethiopia has over forty public universities in many disciplines. A number of Somali students have benefited from the scholarship opportunities awarded by Ethiopian Universities at undergraduate and graduate programs. Augmenting the number of intake of scholarship students and increasing the areas of training helps to meet the required need for educated citizens in government, private and academic institutions. It also plays a meaningful role in bringing closer the youth of Ethiopia and Somalia.
   • Short- term capacity building programs to Somali public servants in diverse areas of government business plays a pivotal role in strengthening service delivery;
2. Cooperation between the Foreign Ministries of Ethiopia and Somalia:
   • Training to Somali Foreign Service professionals in the Ethiopian Diplomatic Training Institute greatly enhances the capacity of diplomatic practitioners.