Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt and Turkey held a new round of diplomatic consultations in Cairo focusing on security challenges across several fragile regions in Africa, including Libya, the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, as both countries deepen cooperation on regional stability and political mediation.
The meetings were organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and marked the third round of Egyptian-Turkish consultations dedicated to African affairs. Officials from the two countries also held the sixth round of bilateral consultations focused specifically on Libya.
The talks come at a time of growing instability across parts of Africa and the Middle East, with security pressures increasing in the Sahel, political uncertainty continuing in Libya and rising strategic tensions around the Red Sea and key international shipping routes.
Participants in the consultations included senior diplomats and officials representing both governments, reflecting a broader effort by Egypt and Turkey to coordinate their approaches to regional crises and strengthen diplomatic engagement across the African continent.
Focus on Somalia and the Horn of Africa
Officials from both countries reviewed developments in the Horn of Africa, with particular attention to the situation in Somalia. Discussions focused on efforts to support stability, strengthen state institutions and preserve the country’s territorial integrity.
Both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining Somalia’s unity while supporting government initiatives aimed at restoring security and expanding state authority across the country.
Somalia has faced prolonged instability since the collapse of its central government in 1991. The country continues to battle the Islamist militant group al-Shabaab despite military operations conducted by Somali forces and international partners.
Egypt and Turkey said they remain committed to supporting Somalia’s security efforts, strengthening institutional capacity and promoting development initiatives aimed at stabilizing the country after decades of conflict.
Protecting Red Sea trade routes
The consultations also addressed maritime security in the Red Sea, one of the world’s most strategically important shipping corridors.
The waterway links global trade routes between Europe and Asia through the Suez Canal and carries a significant share of international energy shipments and commercial trade.
Officials from both countries stressed the importance of protecting maritime navigation and preventing regional conflicts from spreading to the Red Sea and surrounding coastal states.
Security concerns in the region have grown in recent years due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East and instability in parts of East Africa, raising fears that disruptions could affect international shipping and global supply chains.
Rising instability in the Sahel
Egyptian and Turkish officials also discussed the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel, a vast region stretching across parts of West and Central Africa south of the Sahara Desert.
Militant organizations linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State have expanded their presence in recent years, fueling political instability and contributing to a series of military coups in countries such as Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.
Both sides reaffirmed support for countries belonging to the Alliance of Sahel States, a bloc formed by Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso after their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States.
The officials said their governments remain committed to supporting regional efforts aimed at combating terrorism and restoring political stability in the region.
Libya’s stalled political transition
A separate session of the consultations focused on the ongoing crisis in Libya, where political divisions and security challenges have persisted since the 2011 uprising that overthrew longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi.
During the sixth round of Egypt-Turkey consultations on Libya, both sides exchanged views on how to support the country’s political transition while preserving its unity and sovereignty.
Officials reviewed regional and international initiatives supporting a political settlement under the auspices of the United Nations and emphasized the importance of dialogue between rival Libyan factions.
They also stressed the need to create conditions that would allow the country to hold simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections, which they described as essential for restoring political legitimacy and responding to the Libyan population’s aspirations for stability and economic development.
The consultations reflect growing diplomatic engagement between Egypt and Turkey as both countries seek to play larger roles in managing regional conflicts and stabilizing areas facing prolonged political and security crises.
