Ethiopia Brings Home 164 Nationals from Lebanon
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Synopsis
Ethiopia has repatriated 164 citizens from Beirut due to security concerns in Lebanon. The returnees were welcomed at Bole International Airport by government officials as part of ongoing efforts to support citizens abroad. The Ethiopian government is committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of its nationals facing difficulties overseas.
Key Takeaways
- Ethiopia has repatriated 164 citizens from Lebanon.
- The return is due to the security situation in the region.
- Government officials welcomed the returnees at Bole International Airport.
- This initiative is part of broader efforts to assist citizens in perilous circumstances abroad.
- Ethiopia and Somalia are enhancing their diplomatic relations.
Addis Ababa, Jan 14 (NationPress) Ethiopia has successfully brought back 164 citizens from Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, in response to the security situation in the Middle Eastern nation, as stated by the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Teyiba Hassen, the Director-General of the Refugees and Returnees Service, along with officials from the foreign ministry, greeted the returnees at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, according to a statement from the foreign ministry.
The government is actively working on repatriating citizens from various nations facing security challenges, as noted by Hassen during the event.
“The Refugees and Returnees Service, in partnership with relevant organizations, will persist in bringing back citizens enduring hardships abroad,” she remarked.
In October 2024, Ethiopia had previously repatriated 51 nationals from Lebanon, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
“Their return highlights the government’s dedication to safeguarding the welfare of its citizens overseas,” the statement added.
According to data from the International Organization for Migration, a UN agency, Ethiopians constitute one of the largest migrant populations in Lebanon.
Additionally, over the weekend, Ethiopia and Somalia reached an agreement to restore and strengthen their bilateral relations, marking a significant move towards easing recent diplomatic strains between the two Horn of Africa nations.
The agreement was finalized during discussions in Addis Ababa between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was visiting Ethiopia.
The leaders engaged in productive talks on various regional and bilateral matters, aiming to strengthen the fraternal ties between their nations, as per a joint communique issued Saturday evening.
Both leaders committed to “restore and enhance” their bilateral relations through full diplomatic representation in their respective capitals. They also highlighted the importance of closer cooperation between their diplomatic missions on multilateral and regional issues of mutual interest, according to the communique.
Recognizing that the stability of the region hinges on robust cooperation between the two nations grounded in mutual trust, confidence, and respect, both leaders vowed to enhance coordination for improved regional relations and to foster a shared understanding and collective progress.
