CAIRO (Somaliguardian) – Egypt has reaffirmed its unequivocal backing for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial unity, as President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi held talks in Cairo with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, underscoring a widening strategic alignment between the two countries.
President Mohamud arrived in the Egyptian capital to a full state reception, marked by a guard of honour and the playing of both national anthems. His visit included direct talks with President el-Sisi, followed by expanded discussions involving senior officials from both sides. The Egyptian president later hosted a formal luncheon for the Somali leader and his delegation.
During the meetings, President el-Sisi emphasised Egypt’s firm opposition to any steps that could destabilise Somalia or infringe upon its sovereignty. According to presidential spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy, the Egyptian leader warned that actions undermining a state’s security or territorial integrity run counter to the principles of the United Nations Charter.
President Mohamud welcomed the opportunity to meet President el-Sisi and praised the depth of relations between Cairo and Mogadishu. He expressed gratitude for Egypt’s consistent support for Somalia’s unity and stability, while also commending Egypt’s broader role in bolstering security across the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. He reaffirmed Somalia’s determination to enhance coordination with Egypt in support of regional stability.
The talks examined avenues for strengthening bilateral ties, with President el-Sisi highlighting the need to put into effect the Strategic Partnership Declaration signed in January 2025. Discussions covered expanded cooperation in trade, development, education and capacity building, alongside Egypt’s readiness to extend assistance through programmes implemented by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development.
Security and defence coordination formed a central pillar of the dialogue, particularly in the area of counter-terrorism. Egypt signalled its willingness to share expertise and operational experience to support Somalia’s efforts to confront security challenges.
Regional issues were also addressed, with both leaders stressing the importance of peaceful conflict resolution and the consolidation of stability in the Horn of Africa. They agreed on the need to protect national institutions and preserve regional resources, while also exploring mechanisms to enhance maritime security.
At a joint press conference following the talks, President el-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s rejection of any recognition of independence for any part of Somali territory. He warned that such actions would establish a dangerous precedent with far-reaching implications for stability across the Horn of Africa.
President el-Sisi also announced plans to deepen cooperation in the health sector, revealing Egypt’s intention to dispatch a medical convoy to Somalia covering multiple medical specialities. He highlighted ongoing collaboration in training and capacity building through Egypt’s development initiatives.
The Egyptian leader confirmed that discussions had included Egypt’s forthcoming role in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, noting that preparations were under way for the deployment of Egyptian forces to assist in maintaining security and stability throughout the country.
Addressing maritime security, President el-Sisi said responsibility for safeguarding the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden rests solely with the states that border them. He pointed to the strategic importance of Egypt and Somalia, given their positions at the northern and southern gateways to the Red Sea.
He concluded by reaffirming Egypt’s long-term commitment to Somalia, pledging continued support aimed at reinforcing stability in the Horn of Africa and the wider Red Sea region.
The visit takes place amid increasing political and military coordination between the two capitals, including Egypt’s participation in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia.
The two presidents most recently met in early July in Alamein, where they held closed-door discussions followed by expanded meetings involving their respective delegations. Those talks focused on advancing their strategic partnership, particularly in the areas of security, defence, political coordination and economic cooperation.
That meeting followed an earlier summit in Cairo, during which Egypt and Somalia signed a joint political declaration elevating bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership. The agreement committed both sides to broader cooperation across political, military and economic spheres, as well as closer consultation on matters affecting regional stability.
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