Somalia and Egypt bolster security cooperation with new military pact

Somalia and Egypt have entered a significant phase of military cooperation, following the signing of a landmark defence agreement on Wednesday aimed at bolstering security ties between the two nations.

The announcement was made by Villa Somalia after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, during his official visit to Cairo, held bilateral talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at Cairo's Al-Ittihadiya Palace.

During a joint press conference, President Hassan lauded the agreement as a crucial step in the shared fight against terrorism, describing it as a model for future collaboration on regional and global security fronts.

"This defence pact is a testament to a future of common defence against the international terrorism we are combating both at home and abroad," he said, adding that it serves as a "blueprint for the exchange of knowledge and expertise in the pursuit of regional, continental, and international peace and security."

H.E. President @HassanSMohamud and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt met in Cairo, signing a defense agreement to further enhance security cooperation. President Hassan Sheikh lauded the pact as crucial for combating terrorism and fostering peace while expressing his… pic.twitter.com/0N3I5KkyMp

— Villa Somalia (@TheVillaSomalia) August 14, 2024

Following the signing, President El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to preserving Somalia's territorial integrity and expressed a firm stance against "any intervention in its internal affairs."

The visit by President Hassan Sheikh comes on the heels of the inauguration of a newly revamped Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu, a move aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties.

Egypt has consistently voiced support for Somalia's unity and territorial sovereignty, particularly in light of a contentious sea deal signed between Somaliland—a self-declared independent region of Somalia—and Ethiopia.

This agreement, which would grant Ethiopia access to 20 kilometres of Somalia's coastline to establish a naval base, has been perceived by Egypt as a potential threat to its military dominance in the Red Sea, especially amid ongoing tensions with Ethiopia over the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile.

This newly signed defence pact underscores a growing partnership between Somalia and Egypt, reflecting both nations' strategic interests in securing their territories and maintaining stability in the region.