Eritrea's President Isaias Afewerki, who rarely travels abroad, has begun a three day visit to Uganda.

Uganda provides most of the African Union peacekeeping troops in Somalia, a country that President Afewerki has been accused of destabilizing by allegedly financially supporting al-Shabab militants. Mr. Afewerki has called those accusations from the United Nations, “ridiculous and absurd.”

A statement from Uganda's State House says Mr. Afewerki will hold talks with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, visit several trade centers and visit with Eritreans living in Uganda.

Eritrea recently indicated it wanted to rejoin an East African peace bloc, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development , four years after leaving the organization

The United Nations has imposed an arms embargo on Eritrea and travel restrictions along with asset freezes on political and military leaders it accuses of violating the arms embargo on Somalia.