Ethiopian premier arrives in Turkey for Afro-Turkish summit

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has this afternoon traveled to the Turkish economic city of Istanbul where he is expected to participate in the Third Turkey-Africa Partnership summit, according to the office of the Prime Minister.

The Ethiopian government last week announced that the Ethiopian premier had returned to the front lines, days after returning from northern Ethiopian where he commanded federal forces in the Ethiopian government’s fight against rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

It remains unclear when did the Ethiopian premier returned to Addis Ababa from the front lines, but his trip to Turkey comes as Ethiopian federal forces and their regional allies announced several victories against the TPLF in both Afar, where all areas previously held by the TPLF, and Amhara region, have been recaptured by the federal army.

In a brief statement published on Twitter, the Office of the Prime Minister said the Prime Minister has arrived in the Turkish city and will participate, along with other Africans, in the Third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit which is expected to discuss cooperation between Turkey and Africa.

“Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed and his delegation arrive in Istanbul, Turkey to participate in the Third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit,” the Prime Minister’s office said on Twitter.

In South Sudan, President Salva Kiir Mayardit dispatched the presidential advisor on security affairs Tutkew Gatluak Manimeh to Turkey and sources said the South Sudanese senior government official will also meet, on the sidelines of the summit, the Ethiopian premier.