Delegation from the EU meets Faroole

[Aseelah-Raaida]

GALKAYO, Somalia Sep 1 (Garowe Online) - The president of Somalia's Puntland State government received a delegation from the European Union on Tuesday, Radio Garowe reports.

Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed "Farole," the Puntland leader, and senior officials of the Puntland government met with the five-member delegation led by the EU Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa region, Ms. Marika Fahlen, at Taar City Hotel in the outskirts of Galkayo, the provincial capital of Mudug region and Puntland's second-largest city.


Ms. Marika and President Farole [Image: Daljir.com]
Mr. Abdigani Yusuf Adde, Puntland's minister for the Environment, told reporters after the meeting that the two sides agreed on a number of key issues.

He noted that the two parties agreed on strengthening cooperation in the fight against piracy and human trafficking, advancing EU development projects in Puntland State, and assisting displaced Somalis who fled conflict in the country's south-central regions to the relative safety of Puntland.

The delegation included EU officials in the humanitarian and security sectors, the Environment Minister added.

In August, Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmake signed a 15-point cooperation agreement with Puntland's government, including a clause stating that the anti-piracy campaign be headquartered in Puntland.

The EU delegation flew back to Nairobi, Kenya, later Tuesday.