President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated the new Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, on being chosen to lead that country’s ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF).
“Your election is a vote of confidence in your leadership by the various parties of the ruling coalition and holds the hope that a stable leadership transition and the widening of political dialogue can open the way to peaceful development in the country,” said President Ramaphosa in his message to Ahmed.
Ahmed was elected on 28 March 2018 and sworn-in as Prime Minister on 2 April.
According to the President, Ethiopia plays a leading role on the African continent, not only as the seat of the African Union, but as a historic beacon of the values of freedom and sovereignty, as embodied in the life of the late Nelson Mandela, whose centenary is being celebrated this year.
“The interests of the countries and people of Africa remain at the top of South Africa’s strategic priorities, as evidenced by the commitment to forging closer cooperation with Ethiopia, displayed by discussions during the recent South Africa-Ethiopia Senior Officials Meeting in March 2018,” said President Ramaphosa.
The President said he looked forward to strengthening relations between the two countries going forward.
“I look forward to working with you, Prime Minister, to further strengthen the strong bilateral relations between our two countries, focusing on economic cooperation for the mutual benefit of our respective countries and peoples,” said President Ramaphosa. – SAnews.gov.za
