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Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates, Badr Abdelatty, has praised the growing relationship between Egypt and Somalia. He highlighted Egypt’s strong commitment to working closely with Somalia on political, economic, and security matters.
Abdelatty made these remarks during a meeting with Somalia’s National Security Advisor, Hussein Sheikh-Ali, on the sidelines of the Oslo Forum—a global event focused on peace and dialogue. He emphasized the importance of building a long-term partnership between the two countries.
The Egyptian minister pointed to the recent Egyptian-Somali Business Forum held in Cairo in January 2025 as a positive step in strengthening trade and investment between the two nations. He said Egypt is eager to see more business opportunities and stronger economic ties with Somalia.
In addition to trade, Abdelatty spoke about Egypt’s ongoing support for training and education programs aimed at helping Somali professionals. He noted that Egyptian institutions have been offering training and capacity-building programs in various fields, and he hopes these efforts will continue to benefit Somalia’s development. He described these programs as key areas of cooperation that help build lasting relations between the two countries.
On the topic of regional peace, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s support for efforts to stabilize the Horn of Africa. He said Egypt is ready to contribute to African Union-led missions aimed at bringing peace to Somalia. Egypt has a long history of supporting peace and security across Africa, and Abdelatty said that commitment remains strong today.
The minister also touched on recent political tensions in the region, particularly the dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia over an agreement signed in January 2024. The deal was between Ethiopia and Somaliland, a self-declared breakaway region of Somalia that is not internationally recognized. The agreement reportedly gave Ethiopia access to the sea in exchange for recognizing Somaliland as an independent state.
Somalia rejected the deal, calling it a violation of its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Egypt has consistently supported Somalia’s position and stressed the importance of maintaining the country’s unity.
However, tensions eased in December 2024 when Somalia and Ethiopia reached a mediated agreement with the help of Turkey. This helped calm the situation and restore diplomatic dialogue between the two countries.
Throughout his remarks, Abdelatty made it clear that Egypt stands firmly by Somalia during both peaceful and challenging times. He expressed hope for deeper cooperation across all sectors, from politics and trade to education and security.
The meeting between the two officials showed the ongoing commitment by both nations to strengthen their ties and work together for mutual benefit. Egypt’s willingness to support Somalia in international forums and contribute to regional peacebuilding efforts reflects the importance it places on a stable and unified Somalia.
As both countries continue to grow their relationship, there is a strong sense of partnership and mutual respect. The future of Egyptian-Somali relations looks promising, with both sides eager to build on recent progress and explore new areas of cooperation.