Egypt, Somalia sign political declaration to elevate bilateral relations

Ahram Online , Thursday 23 Jan 2025

President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and his Somali counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed a joint political declaration on Thursday to elevate the bilateral relationship between Egypt and Somalia to a strategic partnership.

main

 

"We are here today to launch a new era of deep cooperation,” El-Sisi stated in a joint press conference following a meeting between the two leaders at the Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo.

President El-Sisi noted that the joint political declaration covers several areas, including political, military, cultural, and economic cooperation.

Under the partnership, annual political consultations will be held at the summit level to track the progress of the Egypt-Somalia relationship and identify avenues for enhanced cooperation across various sectors.

Thursday's meeting in Cairo marked the fourth between El-Sisi and Sheikh Mohamud in a year amid the recent strengthening of Egypt-Somalia relations.

During today’s meeting, El-Sisi and Sheikh Mahmoud discussed several key regional issues, including the security and political situation in the Horn of Africa and security in the Red Sea.

"We agreed on the need to intensify efforts to maintain peace and security in this vital region, which affects global security," El-Sisi added.

Both leaders also reaffirmed that the Asmara Summit, held in October 2024 between Egypt, Somalia, and Eritrea, represented a significant shift in boosting relations and coordination among the three countries.

El-Sisi noted that he and his Somali counterpart also agreed on the importance of holding a second trilateral summit to enhance their partnership further.

No threat intended
 

According to President El-Sisi, Egypt and Somalia agreed to continue implementing the military cooperation protocol signed in Cairo in August 2024.

The protocol aims to “buttress the capabilities of the Somali state and its national institutions, to uphold security and stability and combat terrorist and extremist organisations,” he explained.

"We discussed the issue of Egyptian forces participating in the new AU mission in Somalia. Our participation in this mission aims to achieve security and stability in Somalia and is not intended to threaten any country," the Egyptian president confirmed.

A newly formed AU force, named the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), is scheduled to deploy in the African nation this month to help combat terrorist groups.

"Our participation is positive. For over 30 years, we have been pained by what is happening in Somalia… Our participation is primarily to show solidarity with Somalia," he added.

President El-Sisi stressed that Cairo has always supported Mogadishu from the vantage point that Somalia's security and stability are closely linked to Egypt's national security.

More deals signed
 

The two leaders discussed the progress in economic cooperation, including the recent launch of the EgyptAir flight route between Cairo and Mogadishu.

El-Sisi and Sheikh Hassan Mahmoud agreed to strengthen bilateral ties in healthcare, judicial cooperation, and capacity building.

Earlier on Thursday, the Egyptian president and his Somali counterpart witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the foreign ministries of both nations, focusing on diplomatic training.

They also signed an agreement on the mutual exemption of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports.

Short link: