Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has pledged to safeguard Somalia against any potential threats marking a subtle response to Ethiopia’s recent initiative to secure access to the Somaliland seaport. Sissi engaged in discussions with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud during their meeting in Cairo on Sunday.
Following their talks, El-Sissi in a press conference, firmly rejected a recent agreement between Ethiopia and the autonomous region of Somaliland which aimed to provide landlocked Ethiopia with access to the coast. El-Sissi underscored Egypt’s commitment to supporting Somalia in the protection of its territorial sovereignty.
“I want to make it very clear – we will not tolerate any threats against Somalia. Do not challenge Egypt or attempt to endanger its fraternal ties particularly when our brothers have sought our solidarity,” stated El-Sissi.
Somaliland, strategically positioned near the Gulf of Aden declared independence from Somalia in 1991 amidst the country’s descent into warlord-driven conflict. Despite lacking international recognition, the region has sustained its own governance.
President Mohamud, who also met with Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Saturday, asserted that Somalia would not permit any agreements concerning the Red Sea without its explicit consent.
“Somalia holds a significant geopolitical interest in the Red Sea and will not permit any encroachment upon its territory without the explicit approval of the sovereign state of Somalia,” he affirmed.
