The Presidency
Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Somali President Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at Al-Ittihadiya Palace, where an official reception ceremony was held, national anthems were played, and guard of honor was inspected.
The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the meeting witnessed bilateral talks followed by expanded talks that included the delegations of the two countries. A joint political declaration to elevate relations between Egypt and Somalia to the level of strategic partnership was also signed by the two presidents, in addition to a number of memoranda of understanding between the two countries signed by the foreign ministers of the two countries.
The two presidents held a press conference at the conclusion of the meetings.
Following is the text of the President’s speech at the press conference:
“In the name of Allah the Most Merciful the Most Benevolent”
My brother, Your Excellency Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
President of the Federal Republic of Somalia
In the beginning, I am pleased to welcome Your Excellency and the accompanying delegation to your second country, Egypt. Your visit is a demonstration of the robust and longstanding ties and relations between our two countries and peoples.
Your visit, my brother, Your Excellency the President, also comes at a time when relations between Egypt and Somalia have witnessed significant development. Our meeting today is the fourth that has brought us together since January 2024, to meet the common interests of our two brotherly peoples.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I discussed with my brother, His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, various regional issues and developments, including the security and political situations in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea security. We agreed on the need to intensify efforts to maintain peace and security in that vital region, which affects global security.
We also agreed that the Asmara Summit, held among Egypt, Somalia and Eritrea on October 10,2024, contributed to the significant progress in relations and coordination among our countries. Discussions witnessed ways to enhance coordination on regional issues, within the framework of keenness to support Somalia, as a fundamental pillar for the Horn of Africa’s stability. We agreed on the importance of holding a second tripartite summit to fortify this partnership.
We also reviewed the overall developments in relations between the two countries and discussed the progress achieved in the economic field, after the operation of the EgyptAir line between Cairo and Mogadishu. We agreed on the need to maintain the existing momentum and strengthen bilateral relations in the coming period, with additional and specific measures in the fields of health, judicial cooperation, capacity building, among others.
Regarding the military field, we agreed to continue joint action to effectuate the military cooperation protocol signed between the two countries in Cairo in August 2024, with the aim of buttressing the capabilities of the Somali state and its national institutions, to uphold security and stability, and combat terrorist and extremist organizations.
In this context, we discussed at length the topic related to the participation of Egyptian forces in the new African Union mission in Somalia.
Allow me to address our participation in this mission, which is aimed at achieving security and stability in Somalia, and does not intend to threaten any country. Our participation is positive. For more than 30 years, we have been concerned about the situation in Somalia. Our participation primarily aims to demonstrate solidarity with the Somali people.
Dear attendees,
We are here today to usher in a new era of deep cooperation. His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and I signed a joint political declaration to elevate bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership, including other political, military, cultural and economic axes. The declaration stipulates holding annual political consultations at the summit level to follow up on the overall developments in relations between our two countries and to explore measures to further enhance cooperation in various fields.
It is my pleasure to witness today with my brother, His Excellency the President of Somalia, the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs in the field of diplomatic training, in addition to an agreement to exchange visa exemptions for the holders of diplomatic passports from our two countries. This shall enhance the mechanisms of political consultation and coordination between Egypt and Somalia.
My brother, Your Excellency the President,
Egypt will always support our brothers in Somalia. We will work together to realize more accomplishments, for the security and stability of your country is integral to our national security.
Once again, I would like to welcome my brother, Your Excellency the President, as a dear and esteemed guest, to your second country, Egypt.
Thank you very much.
