CAIRO (KAAB TV) – Abdifatah Al-Sisi said on Thursday that Egypt will always be a supporter of Somalia, assuring that they will work together to achieve more success.
Sisi said that the security and stability of Somalia is an important part of Egypt’s national security.
In a joint press conference with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President Sisi underlined the importance of strengthening efforts to maintain peace and security in the Horn of Africa region, which has an impact on international security.
He said they agreed with his Somali counterpart on the importance of holding another tripartite meeting with Egypt, Somalia and Eritrea to strengthen cooperation, citing the progress made in the 2024 Asmara meeting as an example that led to changes in came to the relationship of the three countries.
The meeting was focused on how to strengthen the coordination of regional affairs as part of the effort to support our brotherly country of Somalia, which is the core of ensuring stability in the Horn of Africa, said President Sisi.
The Egyptian president added that the talks he had with his Somali counterpart touched on the latest developments in the region, including the political and security situation in the Horn of Africa region as well as the security of the Red Sea.
The President of Egypt also welcomed the President of Somalia, saying that his visit to Egypt reflects the deep relationship between the two countries, stressing that the visit coincides with a time when relations between Egypt and Somalia are undergoing great development.
Sisi said that this is the fourth meeting between him and the president of Somalia since January 2024, adding that the purpose of today’s meeting is to realize the goals of the two brotherly people.
He said they agreed with the president of Somalia to continue joint efforts to implement the military cooperation agreement signed between the two countries in August 2024 to enhance the capacity of the government of Somalia and its national institutions to maintain peace and security and fight against terrorist organizations and radical.
Sisi said that the talks were discussed in detail on the participation of the Egyptian forces in the new African Union mission in Somalia, adding that this action is aimed only at ensuring the security and stability of Somalia, but is not a threat to another country.
Egypt’s participation in the African Union mission is positive and its main purpose is to show solidarity with the Somali brothers, he said.
He referred to a joint political statement he signed with the president of Somalia to promote relations and reach a strategic partnership covering political, military, cultural and economic fields.
According to the statement, the two countries will hold an annual political dialogue at the presidential level to monitor the development of the relationship between the two countries and explore ways to further strengthen this relationship.
The Egyptian president said he was present with the Somali president at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the ministries of foreign affairs of the two countries on diplomatic training, as well as an agreement to exchange visa waivers. of the holders of diplomatic passports of the two countries, which enhances the processes of political consultation and cooperation between Egypt and Somalia.
The talks between the two sides touched on the progress made in the economic field after the launch of EgyptAir flights between Cairo and Mogadishu.
He added that they agreed on the need to continue the current momentum and to strengthen the relationship between the two sides in the coming period by taking additional measures to promote cooperation in the fields of health, justice and capacity building.