MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Saturday for high-level talks with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, as the two leaders prepare to discuss a range of key bilateral and regional issues, his office said.
The Somali president is due to meet his Egyptian counterpart on Sunday. According to credible sources within the Somali government, the most pressing issue on the agenda will be Mogadishu’s request for Cairo’s diplomatic support in persuading Saudi Arabia to begin providing financial assistance to Somalia.
Saudi Arabia has previously made clear that any funding it offers Somalia would be contingent on President Mohamud reaching political agreements with his domestic opponents and with regional states, with the aim of stabilising the country’s internal political landscape. Riyadh has indicated that, without such reconciliation, it is unwilling to expend significant resources on supporting the current administration.
Egypt has also earlier conveyed a similar position to President Mohamud, urging him to reconcile with opposition figures and federal member states that are at odds with his government. Egyptian officials have argued that a country beset by internal divisions cannot effectively advance its diplomatic interests on the global stage.
These discussions take place against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions, particularly following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, a move strongly condemned by the Somali government. Mogadishu has since called on the international community to support efforts to compel Israel to reverse its decision.
Somalia has recently severed relations with the United Arab Emirates, which had provided millions of dollars in assistance to Somali security forces. The government now wants Saudi Arabia to fill the funding role previously occupied by the UAE. However, Riyadh remains cautious, concerned that any investment may fail to deliver meaningful results amid Somalia’s ongoing political uncertainty and persistent tensions between the federal government in Mogadishu and some of its member states.
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