(SomaliNet) Yemen has officially reopened its embassy in Mogadishu, the Somalia capital on Tuesday as the interim government welcomed the move as example for other countries to follow. Yemen's ambassador to Somalia, Ahmad Hamid Omer told reporters in the capital the aim of reopening the embassy in Mogadishu was to support the Somali interim government and people "to make peace and stability". Hussein Mohamed Aideed, the deputy prime minister and interior minister, and other government officials have attended a ceremony of reopening the Yemeni embassy. Mr. Aideed welcomed the Yemeni’s move to reopen its embassy in Mogadishu as positive step towards peace in the region. “This indicates that Mogadishu is peaceful and all world embassies could be reopened,” he said.
Yemen became the first Arab nation to open its diplomatic office in Somalia since the collapse of former regime of Siad Bare in 1991. Most nations closed their embassies in Mogadishu during the past decade when the Horn of Africa country descended into anarchy following the toppling of President Siad Barre in a 1991 revolt. The interim government entered Mogadishu after Ethiopian troops late last December drove out Islamists who had controlled the city and much of the country since June.