On 17 February, Ethiopia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, held a discussion with senior director for Africa, Cyril Sartor, on peace and stability in the Horn of Africa region.
During the meeting, Dr Workneh emphasized the need to strengthen relations between Ethiopia and the US to combat terrorism in the region as well as called for support for the ongoing South Sudanese peace process.
After praising Ethiopia’s hard work, Sartor said the US supports efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to maintain peace in the region In a related development, Dr Workneh also had a productive discussion with members of the US Congress on bilateral and regional issues. Expressing their support for the ongoing reform program in Ethiopia, they said “Ethiopia is essential to the peace and stability of the region.”
Two days later, about 860 peacekeepers from the 17th Motorized Battalion of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) received the UN Medal Awards in recognition of their tireless service and sacrifice to support peace efforts and to maintain security in Abyei Area.
The 17th Motorized Battalion has been deployed for over eight months in Diffra and has been carrying out UNISFA’s mandate by demilitarizing its area of responsibility, protecting communities, providing escorts for humanitarian agencies and securing UN personnel and facilities.
The UN Medals were presented as the sign of the UN’s gratitude and appreciation of the troops’ commitment, sacrifice, and hard work. In his speech during the awarding ceremony, Maj General Tesfaygidey Hailemichael, UNISFA’s Force Commander and Acting Head of Mission, emphasized the role of the UN peacekeepers in Abyei.
“Practically they have created relatively peaceful and calm security situation in their area of responsibility. The operationally challenging environment, under which they have had to operate day and night, sometimes in very tough conditions, has never deterred them in carrying out their duties. They work closely and hand in hand with communities and their leaders in order to bring peace to Abyei.”
“The Ethiopian people and government sent us as ambassadors of the international community to complete the task of ensuring peace and security in the Abyei area,” said and Col Hailu G/Hiwot, Battalion Commander of the 17th Motorized Battalion.
