Facebook Twitter (X) Instagram Somali Magazine - People's Magazine
Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, held talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Dr. Badr Abdel Atty, in Cairo on Saturday, highlighting the growing diplomatic and strategic ties between the two countries. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum, which brought together African and international leaders to discuss cooperation, development, and shared security concerns.
During the discussions, both ministers focused on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in several priority areas, including economic development, investment, security, and regional stability. They agreed that Somalia and Egypt share common interests and challenges, and that closer collaboration could contribute to long-term peace and sustainable development in the Horn of Africa and the wider region. The talks emphasized the need to move beyond political goodwill toward practical partnerships that deliver tangible benefits to citizens in both countries.
Minister Abdisalam welcomed Egypt’s continued support for Somalia, describing Cairo as a key partner that has consistently stood by the Somali government during difficult periods. He reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to deepening cooperation with Egypt, particularly in diplomacy, security, and institutional capacity-building. According to the Somali foreign minister, strengthening state institutions and improving coordination with regional partners remain critical for Somalia’s ongoing recovery and efforts to rebuild after decades of conflict and instability.
The Somali minister also underscored the importance of joint regional efforts in addressing shared challenges, noting that peace and stability in Somalia are closely linked to the security of the broader region. He stressed that collaboration with countries like Egypt can help Somalia enhance governance, improve service delivery, and attract investment that supports economic growth and job creation.
On his part, Dr. Abdel Atty highlighted the positive trajectory of Egyptian-Somali relations, describing them as historic and rooted in mutual respect and shared regional responsibilities. He reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to deepening strategic cooperation with Somalia, emphasizing that Cairo views Somalia’s stability as essential to regional peace. One of the key developments discussed was the relocation of the headquarters of the Egyptian Embassy to Mogadishu, a move that is expected to strengthen diplomatic engagement and improve coordination between the two governments.
The Egyptian foreign minister noted that having the embassy fully operational in Mogadishu would facilitate closer communication, faster decision-making, and more effective implementation of joint initiatives. He described the move as a strong signal of Egypt’s confidence in Somalia’s improving security situation and its commitment to supporting the Somali government on the ground.
Regional security developments also featured prominently in the discussions. Egypt reiterated its support for Somalia’s stability and for peace efforts in what it referred to as the African Century region. Dr. Abdel Atty stressed the importance of sustained international support for Somalia, particularly through continued funding for the African Union mission tasked with supporting and stabilizing the country. Both ministers agreed that predictable and adequate funding is essential to ensure the mission’s effectiveness and to prevent security gains from being reversed.
The two sides also emphasized the urgent need to strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism and violent extremism. They called for intensified regional and international coordination to address security threats that continue to undermine peace and development in Somalia and neighboring countries. The ministers agreed that terrorism is a shared challenge that requires collective action, intelligence-sharing, and long-term strategies focused not only on military responses but also on addressing root causes such as poverty, weak institutions, and lack of opportunity.
Overall, the meeting reaffirmed the strong political will on both sides to elevate Somali-Egyptian relations to a higher level. By focusing on diplomacy, security cooperation, economic development, and regional stability, both countries signaled their intention to work closely together in support of peace and prosperity in Somalia and across the region.