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Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met on Monday with Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdelsalam Abdi Ali during the fifth Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development to discuss key issues surrounding the deployment of Egyptian forces to Somalia under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The meeting focused on Cairo’s continued commitment to supporting Somalia’s security, stability, and overall development.
According to a statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, the talks reaffirmed Egypt’s readiness to assist Somalia in its efforts to strengthen national institutions, maintain peace, and promote long-term stability across the Horn of Africa. Abdelatty stressed that the deployment of Egyptian troops to Somalia represents not only a strategic step for regional peace but also a demonstration of Egypt’s broader role in supporting African-led solutions to African challenges. He expressed optimism that the necessary procedures for deployment would soon be finalized, noting that securing sustainable international funding is essential to ensuring the mission’s success and continued operation.
The two ministers also discussed ways to deepen cooperation between Cairo and Mogadishu in areas such as trade, investment, health, and development. Abdelatty proposed organizing the second Egypt–Somalia Business Forum in the near future to encourage stronger private sector partnerships and attract more Egyptian and Somali investors to explore opportunities in both countries. The forum, he said, would serve as a platform to highlight investment prospects, promote business networking, and support development-driven collaboration between the two nations.
Minister Abdi Ali, for his part, expressed gratitude for Egypt’s consistent political, developmental, and humanitarian support to Somalia. He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to enhancing its partnership with Cairo, emphasizing that Somalia values Egypt’s role as a trusted partner in advancing regional peace and development. Abdi Ali added that the growing cooperation between the two countries reflects a shared vision for stability and prosperity in the Horn of Africa.
Egypt announced its participation in the AUSSOM mission in December 2024, four months after signing a military cooperation protocol with Somalia. The decision came at the request of the Somali government and with the formal approval of the African Union Peace and Security Council. At the time, Egyptian officials described the move as part of Cairo’s broader contribution to regional peacekeeping and counterterrorism efforts across Africa.
Although the AUSSOM mission has faced some funding challenges, Egyptian officials have maintained that the deployment remains on track and that their forces are expected to arrive in Somalia within the coming weeks. The addition of Egyptian troops is seen as an important boost to the African Union’s stabilization efforts, particularly as Somalia continues to face security threats from extremist groups.
By reinforcing its military and developmental partnership with Somalia, Egypt aims to strengthen regional cooperation, enhance security coordination, and promote sustainable peace in a region long affected by conflict and instability. The meeting between Abdelatty and Abdi Ali underscored the growing importance of African solidarity and collective action in addressing shared challenges while opening new paths for cooperation between their nations.