Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held talks in Al-Alamein on Somalia's security, political developments and stability in the Horn of Africa.
AL-ALAMEIN, Egypt (Somali Report) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in the coastal city of Al-Alamein, with discussions focusing on Somalia's internal situation, security and wider stability in the Horn of Africa.
The meeting took place as Hassan Sheikh was attending the Al-Alamein Africa Business Forum, where he is seeking to strengthen Somalia's economic and diplomatic engagement with countries across the continent.
According to a statement from the Egyptian presidency, the two leaders reviewed developments in Somalia and efforts to strengthen stability and support the country's national institutions.
Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's support for Somalia's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, while pledging that Cairo would continue supporting Somalia's national institutions.
The Egyptian president's position comes as Somalia continues to face security challenges and political tensions, while also working to strengthen cooperation with regional partners on security and state-building.
Hassan Sheikh, for his part, stressed the importance of the longstanding relationship between Somalia and Egypt and thanked Cairo for its support in political, security and development matters.
The two presidents also discussed Somalia's domestic political situation and the importance of strengthening understanding among the country's political stakeholders and different sections of society, according to the Egyptian presidency.
The talks come amid efforts by the Somali government to deepen regional cooperation as it confronts security threats and works to reinforce state institutions.
Hassan Sheikh has increasingly engaged with neighbouring and regional governments in recent weeks as Somalia seeks greater coordination on security and political issues affecting the Horn of Africa.
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The discussions between Mogadishu and Cairo also extended to broader regional developments. The leaders exchanged views on security in the Horn of Africa and stressed the importance of cooperation involving Somalia, Egypt and other countries in the region.
Particular attention was given to the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea — strategic waterways connecting the Indian Ocean with the Middle East and Europe and through which a significant volume of international maritime trade passes.
The Red Sea region has faced growing security concerns in recent years, while political and military developments around the Horn of Africa have increased the importance of coordination among countries bordering or located near the strategic waterways.
Egypt has long regarded stability in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab as important to its national security, particularly because of the waterways' connection to the Suez Canal, a major source of revenue and a critical international shipping route.
Somalia, meanwhile, occupies a strategically important position along the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and has sought stronger partnerships with regional and international powers on maritime security, counterterrorism and economic development.
The meeting between Hassan Sheikh and Sisi underscores the breadth of the relationship between the two countries, which extends beyond bilateral ties to wider security and geopolitical issues in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea region.
The talks also come at a time when Somalia is seeking to maintain regional partnerships while navigating complex political and security challenges at home and growing competition among regional actors.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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