Egypt will not tolerate any threat to Somalia or its security, said President Abdel Fattah El Sisi Sunday.
Speaking in a joint press conference with visiting Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Sisi reiterated rejection of a recently signed agreement between Ethiopia and Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland to use its Red Sea port of Berbera.
Cairo supports Somalia and is against any interference in its domestic affairs and attempts to undermine its sovereignty, Sisi affirmed.
The deal between Somaliland and Ethiopia is “unacceptable”, the president said, stressing that Egypt would intervene to stop this threat if requested to do so.
Egypt also backs Somalia in its fight against terrorism, Sisi told reporters, adding that Somalia is an Arab country and enjoys Arab League (AL) rights to joint defense against any threat.
President Sisi expressed his welcome and happiness over the visit of his Somali opposite and his accompanying delegation to Egypt, commending the achievements made during the past period under the leadership of President Hassan Sheikh in Somalia.
At a joint press conference with Sheikh Mahmoud, President Sisi highlighted the successes achieved by the Somali president , including the fight against terrorism, which had caused long-term instability in Somalia for over 30 years. Sisi said Sheikh Mahmoud succeeded in relieving the burdensome debts on the Somali state resulting from recent economic hardships.
President Sisi stated that the Somali government, under Hassan Sheikh’s leadership, also succeeded in lifting the arms and equipment embargo that had been imposed on Somalia since 1991. He emphasized the strength of the Egyptian-Somali relationship, describing it as “historical.”
“Our bilateral discussions with President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud were very constructive in ways to enhance relations between the two countries in various fields, including political, economic, security, and military areas,” Sisi said.
He added, “We are always ready to develop our relationship with our brothers in Africa and in Arab countries. Somalia is an African and Arab country like Egypt. We are also ready to progress positively and with strong determination in all available areas. We always say that Egypt does not interfere in the affairs of countries and always seeks cooperation for construction, development, and rebuilding.”
President Sisi continued, “There is an important issue we discussed regarding the agreement between Somalia and Ethiopia regarding the establishment of a port on the Red Sea. We stated our position immediately following the issuance of a statement 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 this agreement. We reaffirm this again, and it was one of the points discussed in our meeting with the Somali President.”
“I say that cooperation 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 the ports in these countries is available to everyone. However, attempting to seize any land until you can control it, as in the agreement with Somalia, is certainly not acceptable to anyone,” President Sisi concluded.
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