Dr. Badr Abdel Aati, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs, reiterated Egypt’s firm rejection of Israel’s recognition of the so-called Somali territory, describing it as a blatant violation of international law, the United Nations Charter, and the constitutive act of the African Union. He emphasized that such actions undermine the foundations of regional and international peace and security, particularly in the Horn of Africa.
Minister Abdel Aati called for an emergency session of the African Peace and Security Council to address this serious development and reaffirm Somalia’s territorial integrity while rejecting unilateral Israeli measures that threaten regional and international peace and security.
His statements came during his participation today, Monday, in the ministerial session of the African Peace and Security Council, held virtually to follow up on developments in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
At the beginning of his address, Minister Abdel Aati highlighted that the critical phase the region is experiencing imposes a collective responsibility to support political, security, and development pathways aimed at ending the suffering of the Congolese people and consolidating sustainable peace.
He welcomed the signing of the Final Peace Agreement and the Framework Agreement on Regional Economic Integration in Washington on December 4 by the Presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. He described these as an important step in building trust, easing tensions, and fostering confidence between the two countries, stressing the importance of moving forward with the implementation of these agreements.
The Foreign Minister also praised regional and international efforts that facilitated dialogue and persuaded both parties to sign the agreements, expressing hope for continued engagement by mediators to ensure comprehensive implementation through ongoing communication with the conflict parties.
He reaffirmed Egypt’s full readiness to provide support and participate in confidence-building arrangements, drawing on Egypt’s extensive experience in peacekeeping, particularly through its long-standing and specialized participation in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Furthermore, Minister Abdel Aati stressed the importance of linking peace and stability restoration with sustainable development through a comprehensive approach addressing all dimensions of the conflict—political, economic, military, and developmental. He highlighted Egypt’s support for implementing this approach, especially given the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on post-conflict reconstruction and development within the African Union framework, as well as Egypt’s hosting of the African Union Center for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development.
The Minister also emphasized the necessity of de-escalation and halting any field-level tensions to create a conducive environment for dialogue, restore stability, encourage efforts to cease hostilities, and ensure humanitarian aid delivery to prevent further aggravation of the humanitarian crisis and its severe impact on civilians.
Finally, Minister Abdel Aati stressed the importance of preserving the unity, integrity, and sovereignty of Congolese territory, reiterating Egypt’s commitment to supporting development efforts in the Great Lakes region through bilateral cooperation programs in health, education, water resources, and capacity building. He also welcomed the expansion of economic and investment cooperation to serve the aspirations of the region’s peoples and enhance opportunities for peace and stability.
Egypt Face Angola in Group Stage Finale of AFCON 2025 in Morocco
