President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi reiterated on Sunday Egypt’s firm rejection of any recognition of Somali secession and confirmed that the country is proceeding with the deployment of forces as part of an African Union support mission.
An official reception ceremony was held for the visiting president, including a guard of honour and the playing of the national anthems of Somalia and Egypt, followed by a bilateral meeting and expanded talks attended by delegations from both countries.
President El-Sisi later hosted a luncheon in honour of the Somali president and his delegation.
The visit comes amid growing political coordination between Cairo and Mogadishu, including Egypt’s participation in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s firm support for Somalia’s unity, security, and territorial integrity, stressing Cairo’s rejection of any measures that undermine the stability or sovereignty of the Somali state, Presidential Spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy said.
He warned that actions taken at the expense of a state’s security and sovereignty violate the United Nations Charter.
For his part, President Mohamud expressed his pleasure at visiting Egypt and meeting President El-Sisi, praising the brotherly relations between the two countries.
He thanked Egypt for its continued support for Somalia’s unity and stability and commended its efforts to enhance security and stability in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa.
He also affirmed Somalia’s keenness to strengthen coordination with Egypt in a manner that serves regional security.
The talks addressed ways to develop bilateral relations, with El-Sisi stressing the importance of activating the Strategic Partnership Declaration signed in January 2025.
The two sides discussed expanding cooperation in trade, development, education, and capacity building, as well as Egypt’s readiness to provide support through programmes of the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development, the spokesperson said.
Security and military cooperation also featured in the discussions, particularly coordination in counter-terrorism efforts, with Egypt expressing its readiness to share its expertise and capabilities with Somalia.
Regional developments were also reviewed, with both sides agreeing on the need to resolve disputes peacefully and consolidate stability in the Horn of Africa by preserving national institutions and safeguarding resources. The talks also covered ways to enhance maritime security.
Following the discussions, the two presidents held a joint press conference. El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s rejection of any recognition of the independence of any part of Somali territory, describing such moves as a dangerous precedent that threatens stability in the Horn of Africa.
El-Sisi said Egypt attaches particular importance to cooperation with Somalia in the medical field and plans to send an Egyptian medical convoy to Somalia covering a range of specialties.
He also highlighted cooperation in training and capacity building through Egyptian development programmes.
The Egyptian president added that the talks included Egypt’s upcoming participation in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, noting that Cairo is proceeding with the deployment of its forces to support security and stability across Somalia.
On maritime security, El-Sisi stressed that responsibility for securing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden rests exclusively with the states bordering them, highlighting the particular role of Egypt and Somalia given their strategic locations at the northern and southern entrances to the Red Sea.
El-Sisi concluded by saying Egypt would remain a committed partner and supporter of Somalia, pledging continued efforts to enhance security and stability in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.
The two leaders last met in early July in Alamein, where they held closed-door talks followed by expanded meetings with delegations. Discussions centred on deepening their strategic partnership, with a focus on security, defence, political coordination, and economic cooperation.
That meeting followed an earlier summit in Cairo, where Egypt and Somalia signed a joint political declaration elevating their relationship to a strategic partnership and committing to expanded cooperation across political, military, and economic tracks and closer consultation on regional stability.
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