“Ethiopia once again demonstrated to the world that negotiating African solutions to African problems is not rhetoric, but a reality that should be welcomed and appreciated by all,” said, spokesman for the organization’s executive secretary.

Mohamud Sheekh stressed that “African countries can skillfully deal with their problems, political or economic ones, and find sustainable solutions.”

Under the leadership of Workneh Gebeyehu, the Authority is committed in institutionalizing this successful management model, based on the capacity and will of the people and governments, he added.

We can already see this happening in Sudan, Somalia and South Sudan, where the agency is supporting guided initiatives of local ownership, he said.

Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda are members of the Authority, established in 1996 to solve problems in the Horn of Africa, including conflicts and political stability.

The aforementioned countries occupy some 5.2 million square kilometers, where nearly 261.2 million citizens live. The region is considered among the poorest in the world.

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