ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Wednesday reiterated AU's continued support to the Ethiopian government's reform agenda.
Mahamat made the remarks during his discussion with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn late on Wednesday concerning the East African country's current political and other state of affairs, according to the statement from Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mahamat, who noted Ethiopia's key role to the pan African block and towards the regional peace and stability, expressed AU's readiness to support Ethiopia's reform agenda and "make available all the tools and instruments in the various departments of the Commission in addressing the challenges in areas of youth unemployment and widening the political space," it was noted.
The AUC Chairperson further expressed his confidence on Ethiopia in managing its own internal affairs. He also appreciated the Ethiopian government's briefing made to the diplomatic communities on Tuesday regarding the current political situations in the country.
The two parties meeting came as Ethiopia faces string opposition and ethnic clashes, which led to the resignation of Prime Minister Desalegn last week.
The east African country also imposed martial law, due effective as of Friday for six months, following a crippling strike last week in its largest Oromia regional state and increasing reports of ethnic clashes across the country.
Desalegn, while briefing Mahamat concerning his country's current situation, has also assured the Chairperson that "there will be a smooth political transition in the country," according to the statement.
Desalegn also outlined the different reform agendas that are underway in the country together with the progress achieved in the agricultural sector and industrialization process.
MahamAt and Desalegn further discussed on various regional and continental matters, which includes South Sudan's peace process, and the upcoming Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Troop Contributing Countries of the AU in Somalia (AMISOM) in Kampala on March 2.