Somali President arrives in Cairo, meets President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi over regional disputes

The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has arrived in Cairo upon an official invitation extended to him by his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Villa Somalia announced that the leaders will engage in significant discussions concerning regional stability and the reinforcement of historical ties between Somalia and Egypt.

This visit follows President Hassan Sheikh’s recent participation in forums where he addressed the escalating tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia, particularly regarding the reported leasing of a naval base by Somaliland—a claim strongly refuted by Somalia.

Against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia, Egypt has affirmed its unwavering support for Somalia. Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shoukry, stated that the country is committed to providing full support to Somalia during these challenging times.

In response to the public disclosure of a memorandum of understanding between the leaders of Somaliland and Ethiopia, Somalia has embarked on diplomatic efforts to rally international support for invalidating the agreement.

Somalia contends that the deal infringes upon its sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Somaliland asserts its right to enter into international agreements with its partners as a sovereign country.