ADDIS ABABA (SD) – Dozens of leaders and ambassadors in the continent and outside including Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo have attended the inauguration ceremony of Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed.

After a landslide election victory for his Prosperity Party in June, Abiy Ahmed’s new government still faces a host of challenges, including the deadly conflict in Tigray.

Abiy took the oath of office, administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice Meaza Ashenafi, on Monday following similar oaths by the speaker and deputy speaker of the parliament’s lower house.

“I, Abiy Ahmed Ali, today in the House of People’s Representatives, accept the appointment as prime minister, as I pledge to undertake responsibly and with faith to the constitution the responsibility placed upon me by the people,” he said.

The prime minister, the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner for restoring ties with neighbouring Eritrea and for pursuing sweeping political reforms, now faces major challenges

Farmaajo is expected to hold talks with Abiy over the bilateral relations of the two countries.

Early this year, UN and critics have accused Somali government dispatching troops to Ethiopia to take part in Tigray conflicted.

Somali government has kept dismissed the allegations, saying the SNA recruits were sent for training in Eritrea but not Ethiopia.