In Detail: What Sisi Did in Djibouti?

During his historic visit, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi held bilateral talks with Djiboutian counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh who welcome the first visit of an Egyptian president since 1977.

Guelleh expressed his country's appreciation for the close and historical relations of cooperation with Egypt and hailed the sincere Egyptian efforts that seek to support the paths of economic reform and development in Djibouti, as well as the significance of the Egyptian role in supporting stability in the African continent.

The president of Djibouti affirmed that there are broad prospects for developing cooperation between the two brotherly countries in many fields, especially on the economic, security, and developmental levels, praising the activity of Egyptian companies and their contribution to development efforts in the African continent.

He also expressed his country’s aspiration to increase the activity of the Egyptian private sector in Djibouti, and his country's keenness to provide all facilities and a supportive climate.

On his part, Sisi renewed his congratulations to his brother Guelleh on winning a new presidential term, stressing that this visit comes as a continuation of the path of distinguished relations that binds the two brotherly countries, and supports the bonds of joint cooperation at all levels.

"This visit reflects the serious Egyptian desire to further the level of bilateral relations between the two countries in all fields to the level of strategic partnership," Sisi said during the talks.

He also affirmed Egypt's keenness to enhance support directed at development efforts in Djibouti, especially with the presence of broad prospects for developing economic cooperation and increasing trade exchange between the two countries, as well as maximizing cooperation in the fields of combating extremist ideology, infrastructure, energy, health, aviation, port linking, education, and culture.

Sisi and Guelleh also exchanged views on the most prominent regional issues, especially the East and Horn of Africa regions. Hence, a mutual understanding between the two sides were seen regarding ways to deal with these files.

"The strategic partnership between Egypt and Djibouti was also emphasized in the framework of efforts to combat terrorism and all forms of organized crime in the Horn of Africa, as well as cooperation in the security file of the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait to achieve security and economic development in the region," said Presidency Spokesman Bassam Rady.

The two presidents also discussed the issue of Nile water, and the latest developments regarding the Renaissance Dam negotiations. They agreed on the importance of reaching a fair and balanced legal agreement on filling and operating the Dam, to achieve the interests of the three countries, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, and maintain regional stability.

The developments of the Palestinian issue were also discussed, as the President of Djibouti lauded the Egyptian efforts that led to the reaching of a ceasefire agreement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.