Somali President Hassan calls for dialogue on Nile River dispute, reaffirms strategic ties with Egypt

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia has called for constructive dialogue and sustainable cooperation to resolve the long-standing disputes between Ethiopia and Egypt over the Nile River.

Speaking in an interview with Al-Arabiya television, Hassan emphasised that negotiations among the concerned countries remain the most viable path toward a peaceful and acceptable solution for all parties involved.

President Hassan highlighted that the disagreements over the use and management of the Nile River should not become a source of division in the region, but rather an opportunity to advance cooperation that serves the common interests of the nations that rely on the river’s resources.

He stressed that Somalia supports dialogue and compromise, and that cooperation offers the only way to address the matter in a sustainable way.

Addressing concerns about whether Somalia’s relationship with Ethiopia might affect its ties with Egypt, Hassan made it clear that the federal government’s engagement with Ethiopia does not undermine Somalia’s longstanding and strategic partnership with Egypt.

He noted that Somalia remains committed to its relationship with Cairo, which he described as one of the most enduring and historic connections the Somali state has with any country.

In the interview, the President reaffirmed the strength of Somali-Egyptian relations. He explained that the two countries share not only strategic cooperation but also a friendship rooted in history.

He recalled that Somalia had stood with Egypt even before it attained independence in 1960. According to him, Somalia supported Egypt during difficult moments in the 1950s when the Suez Canal came under attack and when Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser was a central figure in regional politics.

“Somalia and Egypt have a long historical relationship, and today we are also two strategic friends,” he said.

He added that the partnership is not new but one that has developed over centuries and has grown stronger in modern times.

The Somali President also reflected on the deep cultural and historical ties that connect the two peoples. He noted that the relationship can be traced back thousands of years to the time when Queen Hatshepsut of ancient Egypt is believed to have visited Somalia more than five millennia ago.

He used this example to underline the depth of the connection, saying it demonstrates how far back the shared history between the two nations extends.

The Somali leader went on to highlight Egypt’s growing role in regional security, including its recent decision to contribute troops to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

“The fact is that our relationship goes back thousands of years, since Queen Hatshepsut visited Somalia more than five thousand years ago. Today, Egypt is participating for the first time in the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia,” he noted.

He confirmed that Egypt has already completed assessments and dispatched officers to review the operational environment in Somalia ahead of deployment.

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• Somali President Hassan calls for dialogue on Nile River dispute
• reaffirms strategic ties with Egypt

While acknowledging that bureaucratic delays often accompany such missions, whether through the African Union, the United Nations, or other international structures, he stressed that Egypt had made progress by sending officers to study terrain and determine areas where its forces will be stationed.

"Egypt has completed its assessment and has sent officers to study the terrain and determine the areas where they will operate, and we await the arrival of the first Egyptian troops,” he said.

President Hassan Sheikh also praised Egypt’s longstanding contribution to Somalia’s security and defence institutions. He explained that Egyptian authorities have supported Somalia for many years by offering training for Somali security personnel and by providing equipment to strengthen the country’s defence capacity.

He said such support demonstrates that the relationship is not only historic but also practical and essential for Somalia’s ongoing stabilisation process.