Somali leader makes first visit to Eritrea in diplomatic thaw

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) – Another diplomatic thaw was under way on Saturday in the troubled region of the Horn of Africa like Somalia. "Somalia is ready to write a new chapter in its relations with Eritrea," said Abdinur Mohamed, a spokesman for President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, on Twitter

The two nations have not yet has been in diplomatic relations for almost 15 years. Eritrea, one of the most closed nations in the world, remains under UN sanctions for allegedly supporting the al-Shabab-based extremist group based in Somalia. Eritrea denies it.

Eritrean Minister of Information, Yemane Meskel, said the three-day visit had taken place at the invitation of President Isaias Afwerki, who has headed since independence in 1993. "The two leaders have already held a summit" on Twitter, sharing photos of the meeting

"The wind of change is here to stay in the Horn of Africa", said on Twitter an Eritrean diplomat, the ambbadador to Japan, Estifanos Afeworki

follows an amazing diplomatic thaw in recent weeks between Eritrea and neighboring Ethiopia after more than two decades. Ethiopia under new reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has already called for the abandonment of sanctions against Eritrea.

The UN Secretary General said the sanctions could be obsolete.

Relationships are changing in the Horn region of Africa. of interest to the rich Gulf states just across the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. They have already fought to gain influence in African countries along one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, including Somalia and Eritrea. Landlocked Ethiopia also views the ports of both countries as outlets for its fast-growing economy.

The United Arab Emirates, which establishes a military base at Eritrean post of Assab after a Saudi-led coalition launches its war against Shia rebels in Yemen in 2015, played a role in restoring relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia, welcoming the leaders of both countries in recent days and praising their "daring" gestures.

Somalia remains fragile under threat from al-Shabab areas and often conducts high-profile suicide bombings in the capital, Mogadishu. A car bomb attack in October killed more than 500 people in the deadliest attack in the country's history.

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