Sisi, Somali Counterpart Hold Talks in Cairo

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi welcomed President of Somalia, Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, to Al-Ittihadiya Palace on Wednesday.

The visit commenced with an official reception ceremony and the playing of the national anthems.

During a meeting, they affirmed the strength and depth of the historic relations between Egypt and Somalia, expressing a mutual commitment to further strengthening these ties across various fields, building on the outcomes of President Mohamud’s last visit to Egypt in January.

On his part, Sisi reiterated Egypt's support for the unity and sovereignty of Somalia and its opposition to any interference in Somalia's internal affairs.

Moreover, both presidents also welcomed mutual steps taken to deepen bilateral cooperation, including the launch of a direct flight between Cairo and Mogadishu, the opening of the Egyptian embassy in the Somali capital Mogadishu, and the signing of a military cooperation protocol between the two countries during President Mohamud’s visit to Egypt.

Moreover, Somalian President expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s continuous support over the past decades, emphasizing Somalia's desire to further strengthen economic, security, and political ties with Egypt in the future, and commending the role of various Egyptian institutions in building the capacities of Somali professionals in different fields.

Furthermore, the meeting included discussions on various regional and international issues of mutual interest. Both sides agreed to intensify consultations and coordination in the coming period to continue efforts to establish security and stability in the Horn of Africa.

Following the talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing ceremony of the military cooperation protocol between the two countries and held a joint press conference.