Cairo, – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Cairo yesterday for a crucial state visit, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties between Somalia and Egypt. The visit comes at a time when the Horn of Africa is witnessing heightened tensions, particularly concerning the recognition of Somaliland and the strained relations between Ethiopia and Somalia.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was warmly received by his Egyptian counterpart, President Abdulfatah Al-Sisi, at the Presidential Palace, where the leaders engaged in discussions on various regional issues and opportunities for enhanced collaboration between their nations.
The focal point of the talks was the simmering tension between Ethiopia and Somalia over the recognition of Somaliland and the recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Federal Democracy Republic of Ethiopia and the Government of Somaliland.
Somaliland, a self-declared independent region in the Horn of Africa, has been seeking international recognition since the early 1990s. Ethiopia, traditionally an ally of Somaliland, has maintained a diplomatic stance that leans towards supporting Somaliland’s autonomy.
The delicate nature of the Somaliland issue has strained relations between Ethiopia and Somalia, two nations that have historically shared close ties. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and President Abdulfatah Al-Sisi engaged in frank discussions on potential avenues for resolving the dispute and fostering stability in the region.
The Egyptian president expressed his commitment to support Somalia’s sovereignty and stress any threat to Somalia’s territorial integrity and IGAD and the African Union called for peaceful resolutions to conflicts in the Horn of Africa.
Both regional organizations emphasized the importance of regional stability and the need for constructive diplomatic efforts to address the concerns surrounding Somaliland’s recognition and Somalia and Ethiopian relations.
The state visit also saw the signing of several bilateral agreements between Somalia and Egypt, covering areas such as trade, security cooperation, and cultural exchange. These agreements aim to strengthen the ties between the two nations and foster economic development and regional stability.
As the state visit continues, the eyes of the international community are closely watching the outcomes of the talks, particularly concerning the Ethiopia-Somalia tensions over Somaliland. The hope is that diplomatic efforts, such as those undertaken in Cairo.
