Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi affirmed on Sunday that Egypt stands with Somalia against any threat to its security and stability, expressing his rejection of the recent agreement signed between Somaliland and Ethiopia over a port in the Red Sea.
In a joint press conference with Somali President Hassan Sheik Mohamud in Cairo, Al-Sisi said: “Egypt supports Somalia and respects its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” adding that the agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia is unacceptable to Egypt and Somalia.
President Al-Sisi emphasized Egypt’s support for Somalia in its fight against terrorism and its efforts to develop relations, saying, “Somalia is an Arab country and has the right to jointly defend itself against any threat, in accordance with the Charter of the Arab League.”
Al-Sisi reiterated that Egypt would not tolerate any threats to the security and safety of Somalia or its people.
Al-Sisi also stressed that the agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland is unacceptable to both Egypt and Somalia.
“Regarding the agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia, we discussed this issue and we have a clear position that was announced by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, rejecting this agreement. We confirm Egypt’s respect for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Al-Sisi said, noting that this issue was one of the topics discussed with the Somali president.
“Somalia is an Arab country and has the right to jointly defend itself against any threat, according to the charter of the Arab League,” he said, stressing that “Egypt will not allow anyone to threaten Somalia or its security and will cooperate with its brothers, especially if they ask for our intervention.”
Addressing his Somali counterpart, the Egyptian president said: “We stand with you and we tell the world that we are cooperating and holding dialogue without any threat or prejudice to security and stability.”
On his part, Somali President Hassan Sheik Mohamud expressed his appreciation for Egypt as a historical ally and a strategic partner, expressing his hope for more cooperation with Cairo in the future, based on mutual respect and benefit.
The Somali president said that he emphasized during his talks with President Al-Sisi his strong desire to work with Egypt to enhance security, stability and economic and political ties between the two countries.
He also said that there is chaos and tension in the world order during this period, and he assured international and regional partners of the need for Ethiopia to abide by international law and respect the sovereignty of Somali lands.
The President of Somalia stressed that the Red Sea is part of the global trade, especially for the neighboring countries that border the Red Sea, saying that “we have great potential and opportunities and we will not allow any country to seize our land, including Ethiopia or any other country.”
The Somali president said that they are ready to participate in the growth of world trade, and to make all arrangements that benefit. “My message to the international partners is that the partnership between Somalia and Egypt will be in all fields and will not threaten any other country,” he added.
