Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has stressed that Egypt will allow no threat to Somalia and its security, reiterating support to the Horn of Africa Arab state, and full rejection of any interference in its affairs or undermining of its sovereignty.
Speaking to a joint press conference with the visiting Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud following their summit talks in Cairo yesterday, President Sisi said that Somalia is an Arab state and has a right to joint defence in the face of any threat according to the Charter of the Arab League.
Regarding the recent agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia, President Sisi said that Egypt’s position was clear and that a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry underlined Egypt’s rejection of the agreement.
“There is an important issue we discussed (during the summit talks) regarding the agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia on the establishment of a port on the Red Sea,” the president said.
Egypt, he said, expressed its position in the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, rejecting any interference in the affairs of Somalia or any infringement on its independence and territorial integrity, and rejecting that agreement.
Emphasising that the Somaliland-Ethiopia agreement is unacceptable to anyone, President Sisi reasserted Egypt’s rejection of infringement upon the territorial integrity of Somalia.
Egypt, he added, will not allow any threat to Somalia and would interfere if requested to do so.
“I say that co-operation and development are much better than anything else. My message now is not to Egypt or Somalia but to the Ethiopians: you can obtain facilities with your brothers in Somalia, Djibouti, or Eritrea through traditional means.”
“The opportunity to benefit from ports in these countries is available to everyone. However, attempting to seize any land until you can control it, as in the agreement with Somaliland, is certainly not acceptable to anyone,” President Sisi added.
President Sisi also reiterated Egypt’s support for Somalia in combating terrorism as well as in seeking to develop relations with Egypt.
The Egyptian leader reassured the Somali president that Egypt stands alongside Somalia for building, development, and reconstruction, urging everyone to co-operate and find a language for dialogue away from threats or encroachment on the security and independence of states.
President Sisi also stressed support for Somalia in its fight against terrorism and working to develop relations, adding that Somalia entered into a problem in 1991, and this problem and the challenges
that struck its capabilities continued for more than 30 years.
Somalia’s economy, the president said, is worth approximately 7 billion dollars, with a population of around 25 million people. “Imagine if, since 1990 until today, the Somali economy increased by a billion dollars annually, what its economy would be like right now?” the president said.
For his part, the Somali president stressed that his country considers Egypt a historical ally and a strategic partner, expressing Mogadishu’s aspiration for more co-operation with Cairo over the coming period, based on mutual respect.
He added that during discussions with President Sisi, he expressed Somalia’s strong desire to work with Egypt to enhance security, stability, and economic and political ties between both countries.
