President El-Sisi received the Somali president at Cairo’s Al-Ittihadiya Palace earlier, where an official reception ceremony was held.

According to a statement by the Egyptian Presidency Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy, the two presidents welcomed the step as one of several to deepen Egypt-Somali bilateral cooperation.

In July, a direct flight line between Cairo and Mogadishu was established, and a new headquarters of the Egyptian embassy opened in Mogadishu on Tuesday.

In a meeting preceding the signing of the protocol, the two leaders reaffirmed the strong historical ties between Egypt and Somalia, Fahmy said.

They also expressed a mutual desire to support these ties at various levels and build on the outcomes of the Somali president's earlier visit to Egypt in January, according to the statement.

El-Sisi reiterated Egypt's commitment to Somalia's unity and sovereignty over its lands, rejecting any interference in its internal matters.

For his part, Mohamud thanked Egypt for its longstanding support; he also expressed Somalia's desire to strengthen economic, security, and political ties with Egypt, the statement added.

Furthermore, the statement pointed out that Mohamud commended during his official multi-day visit to Cairo Egyptian efforts in developing Somali capacities across various sectors.

El-Sisi and Mohamud also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest and agreed to increase consultation and coordination to promote security and stability in the Horn of Africa, the statement disclosed.

Since January, tensions have increased in the Horn of Africa after Somaliland, a breakaway entity from Somalia not recognized by Egypt, agreed to lease 20 kilometres of its coast for 50 years to Landlocked Ethiopia, which wants to set up a naval base and a commercial port in that area on the Red Sea.

Egypt has repeatedly asserted its firm position supporting the unity and sovereignty of Somalia over its territories.

"Somalia is an Arab state in the Arab League with rights, according to the Charter of the League, to collective defence against any threat it faces," El-Sisi said. "We are not threatening anyone; we are stating this for clarity," El-Sisi stressed in a press conference with the Somali president in January.

"We will not allow anyone to threaten Somalia or infringe upon its territory. I say with utmost clarity, no one should attempt to threaten Egypt's brothers, especially if our brothers have requested our presence alongside them," the Egyptian president stated at the time.

Economic Relations
 

The volume of trade exchange between Egypt and Somalia surged 88 percent to $59 million in the first half of 2024, compared to $31 million a year earlier, the Egyptian Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) stated in a report released Tuesday.

Egyptian exports to Somalia jumped 83 percent to $57 million between January and June, while imports from Somalia rose from $300,000 to $2 million.

Egypt’s main exports to Somalia included milling and starch products valued at $29 million, sugar products at $10 million, pharmaceuticals at $3 million, and salt, stones, and cement at $2 million.

Somalia’s key exports to Egypt in 2023 were live animals valued at $1.8 million, gum and plant extracts at $280,000, and grains and oil fruits at $16,000.

According to the report, remittances from Egyptian expats in Somalia declined from $328,000 to $299,000 in FY2022/2023; similarly, the remittances from Somalis in Egypt decreased from $27,000 to $14,000. 

Somali investments in Egypt plunged to $80,000 in 2022/23 compared to $154,000 the year before.

Historical Ties
 

In modern history, the strong relationship between Egypt and Somalia was notably strengthened under the leadership of Egypt’s late President Gamal Abdel-Nasser, who supported Somalia's fight against colonialism, according to the State Information Service (SIS).

Nasser declared his support for the national forces in Somalia to preserve the Somali identity with its Arab-Islamic roots and the unity of its territories.

In 1955, Somali leader Abdirashid Sharmarke sought military assistance to defend his country. He approached European nations who refused to provide aid. Following a meeting with Sharmarke, Nasser promised and delivered military aid, marking a pivotal moment in Somali history, according to the SIS.

Egypt actively participated in Somalia's independence efforts and was among the first to recognize Somali independence in 1960, offering significant support post-independence.

The SIS informs us that as Somalia neared civil war, Egypt made considerable efforts to prevent conflict, hosting meetings between Somali officials and opposition leaders, and initiating the 1989 Egyptian-Italian peace plan.

Despite these efforts, Somalia descended into civil war in 1991. Egypt remained deeply involved, rejecting the secession of Somaliland and organizing reconciliation conferences in Cairo to foster peace and national unity in Somalia, the SIS said.