MOGADISHU, Somalia – A high-level delegation led by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has arrived in the capital, Cairo, following an official invitation from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
President Mohamud received a red carpet welcome upon his arrival. He will meet with President El-Sisi to discuss enhancing joint efforts to combat terrorism.
Both leaders will also discuss ways to accelerate cooperation in the areas of security and peace. The meeting will also cover the need to boost economic ties and trade.
President Mohamud thanked Egypt for its support of Somalia. He said Somalia’s ties with Egypt are based on brotherhood, cooperation, and shared interests.
The visit comes weeks after President Mohamud met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to restore relations, ending their one-year diplomatic tension.
Ethiopia, a landlocked nation, seeks sea access from Somalia, a move vehemently rejected by Egypt, as the two countries are in a long-standing dispute over the Nile River.
Despite their rivalry, both Ethiopia and Egypt are deploying troops as part of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
