Africa

Egypt pledges full support for Somalia in conflict with Ethiopia

Presidents Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somalia) and Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (Egypt) during their press conference in Cairo on January 21, 2024. (Photo: Villa Somalia)

By Abdirahman Khalif | Sunday, January 21, 2024

El-Sisi noted that Somalia's rights are enshrined in The Charter of the Arab League - the common defence against any threat to it.

Somalia has Egypt's full support in its dispute with Ethiopia over a port deal with Somaliland, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said Sunday, following talks with his counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Landlocked Ethiopia and Somalia's dispute began on January 1, when the former signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland that would see it granted access to the sea. Somaliland would lease 20 km of the coastline around the port of Berbera, on the Gulf of Aden, for 50 years, for military and commercial purposes.

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Following the MoU, Ethiopia said it would consider recognising Somaliland's independence, but Somalia sees the deal as a violation of its sovereignty by Ethiopia. Somaliland is a breakaway region of Somalia that claims autonomy but is not recognised as such.

At their meeting at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo, Egypt, Presidents Abdel and Hassan discussed discussed how to enhance bilateral relations and address regional challenges such as the Ethiopia-Somaliland maritime deal.

Speaking to the media afterwards, El-Sisi noted that Somalia's rights are enshrined in The Charter of the Arab League - the common defence against any threat to it. Somalia entered the Arab League on February 14, 1974, which ws 14 years after it attained independence.

Abdel further warned that his country will not permit any threats against Somalia or any harm to its national security.

"It is not in anyone's interest to test Egypt's patience and threaten its brothers, especially if they requested Egypt's intervention," he told their joint press conference.

He reiterated Egypt's firm rejection of the Ethiopia-Somaliland Red Sea agreement, which Somalia described as an act of aggression and a clear violation of its sovereignty by Addis Ababa.

President Hassan said: "The Red Sea is a fundamental part of global trade and security. Somalia takes pride in possessing a significant share of the Caspian Sea and does not accept any encroachment by another state."

I discussed further strengthening our historical relations with Egypt with President @AlsisiOfficial in Cairo. We are grateful for Egypts unwavering support for our national sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. We will work together to advance stability and security in… pic.twitter.com/BboiMWD7M8
— Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (@HassanSMohamud) January 21, 2024

Thus far, several organisations, including the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have urged the feuding countries to find a peaceful resolution.

In Uganda earlier on Sunday, at the Third Summit of the Group of 77 and China, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged the two countries to open dialogue to settle their dispute.