Egyptian
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
witnessed yesterday Wednesday in Cairo the signing of a military cooperation
protocol between the two countries.
President El-Sisi received the Somali president at Cairo’s Al-Ittihadiya Palace earlier, where an official reception ceremony was held.
According to a statement by the Egyptian Presidency Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy, the two presidents welcomed the step as one of several to deepen Egypt-Somali bilateral cooperation.
In July, a direct flight line between Cairo and Mogadishu was established, and a new headquarters of the Egyptian embassy opened in Mogadishu on Tuesday.
In a meeting preceding the signing of the protocol, the two leaders reaffirmed the strong historical ties between Egypt and Somalia, Fahmy said.
They also expressed a mutual desire to support these ties at various levels and build on the outcomes of the Somali president's earlier visit to Egypt in January, according to the statement.
El-Sisi reiterated Egypt's commitment to Somalia's unity and sovereignty over its lands, rejecting any interference in its internal matters.
For his part, Mohamud thanked Egypt for its longstanding support; he also expressed Somalia's desire to strengthen economic, security, and political ties with Egypt, the statement added.
Furthermore, the statement pointed out that Mohamud commended during his official multi-day visit to Cairo Egyptian efforts in developing Somali capacities across various sectors.
El-Sisi and Mohamud also discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest and agreed to increase consultation and coordination to promote security and stability in the Horn of Africa, the statement disclosed.
Source: Ahram Online
