Mogadishu(Mogadishu24)-The President of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, embarked on an official trip to Eritrea on Sunday to discuss matters of security and army cooperation.

In a statement, the Villa Somalia emphasized that the visit aims to strengthen the relationship between the two countries, and cooperate on regional security.

“The President’s visit to the Republic of Eritrea is aimed at bolstering the relationship between the two nations and fostering defence and security cooperation to uphold peace, stability, and security in the region,” the statement from Villa Somalia reads.

During his visit to Eritrea, President Hassan Sheikh will hold discussions with his Eritrean counterpart, Isaias Afwerki. The focus of their talks will be on cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the areas of security and the training of Somali armed forces.

The Villa Somalia has not disclosed the duration of President Hassan Sheikh’s visit to Eritrea.

The Eritrean government is currently providing training to a large number of Somali troops. Some of these trained troops have returned to Somalia following the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

The President’s trip comes after alarms were raised by parents of thousands of Somali youths who were sent for training in Eritrea and have not yet returned.

The parents have called on and requested the President to facilitate the return of their children to Somalia.

Political analysts in Somalia stated that the President’s trip as a measure to accelerate the training of forces in Eritrea, which will subsequently contribute to the government’s efforts against Al-Shabaab.