Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Annette Weber, the European Union Envoy to the Horn of Africa, during a meeting in Aswan on Monday, 20 October 2025 (Photo: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
FM Abdelatty’s appeal came during a meeting with Annette Weber, the European Union envoy to the Horn of Africa, on the sidelines of the fifth Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development.
According to a Foreign Ministry statement, Abdelatty emphasized the need to preserve and build on recent security gains.
He highlighted AUSSOM’s key role in countering terrorism and disrupting links between the Al-Shabaab movement and the Houthis, describing the mission as a shared security priority for both Egypt and the EU.
Egypt’s participation in AUSSOM
Abdelatty also reviewed ongoing preparations for the deployment of Egyptian forces to AUSSOM, reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to supporting stability in Somalia and across the Horn of Africa.
Established under a UN Security Council resolution in December 2023, AUSSOM has an initial 12-month mandate and succeeds the African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), which ended in 2024.
The mission’s main objective is to assist Somalia in its fight against Al-Shabaab, which has led an insurgency for more than 15 years.
In December 2024, Egypt announced its participation in AUSSOM, about four months after Cairo and Mogadishu signed a military cooperation protocol.
Egypt’s participation came “at the request of the Somali government and with the approval of the African Union Peace and Security Council,” according to previous remarks by Abdelatty.
Abdelatty also reaffirmed Egypt’s longstanding position in support of Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
Red Sea governance
The Egyptian foreign minister also discussed broader regional issues with the EU envoy, reiterating Egypt’s rejection of destabilizing policies in the Horn of Africa. He voiced Cairo’s full support for regional and international efforts to promote calm and stability.
Abdelatty stressed that governance of the Red Sea is the “exclusive responsibility” of its coastal states, which are best positioned to safeguard its security, stability, and resources.
This approach, he said, reflects shared interests and upholds the principle of regional ownership in managing regional affairs.
Supporting Sudan’s institutions
FM Abdelatty further called for strong international backing for Sudan and its national institutions.
He reviewed Egypt’s efforts, through the Quadripartite Mechanism and the African Union, to establish a humanitarian truce, secure a comprehensive ceasefire, and launch an inclusive political process.
The Quadripartite Mechanism, comprising Egypt, the US, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, seeks to end the war that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces. It also works to facilitate aid delivery and lay the groundwork for a civilian-led transition.
This war has killed tens of thousands and caused what the United Nations describes as the world’s largest hunger and displacement crisis.
Furthermore, Abdelatty underscored the need to support Sudan’s “Government of Hope,” led by Kamel Idris, and to reject any attempts to form a rival administration.
He urged the international community to honor its financial pledges to Sudan and help share the burden with neighbouring countries.
He also pointed to opportunities for EU cooperation in Sudan’s reconstruction, particularly in energy, infrastructure, and basic services, in partnership with Egypt’s private sector.
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