Ethiopian PM thanks Sisi for presidential pardon for 30 Ethiopian prisoners

CAIRO - 11 June 2018: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmad extended on Monday thanks to President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, before leaving Cairo, for releasing a group of Ethiopians jailed in Egyptian prisons.

Earlier today, up to 30 Ethiopian prisoners left Cairo international airport after receiving the presidential pardon.

The Ethiopian prime minister paid a two-day official visit to Egypt. He discussed with Sisi boosting bilateral relations as well as issues of mutual concern.

The Ethiopian prime minister arrived in Cairo on Sunday on a two-day visit. During the conference, he expressed his happiness for visiting Egypt and meeting President Sisi where they discussed boosting bilateral relations as well as issues of mutual concern.

For his part, President Sisi said that “both countries went a long way in re-building confidence and we will exert more efforts in facing common challenges, notably concluding an agreement in regard with the GERD that ensures the Nile water shares of both countries.”

Ahmed added “The African neighboring nations used to conspire against each other in the past, but this led to nothing. Actually, we can now overcome our problems through cooperation among ourselves.”

“I came today to prove my country’s well intention not only to preserve Egypt’s Nile water share but also to increase it,” Ahmed said.

At the end of his word, Ahmed asserted that his “government and people .. want to cooperate with the people of Egypt in any area, not only [the] Nile but other areas as well.”

Additional report with MENA and Mohamed Abdel Maguid