Egyptian, Somali PMs Discuss Economic, Security Cooperation

CAIRO, Xinhua – Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met his Somali counterpart Hamza Abdi Barre here on Saturday to discuss economic and security cooperation, according to a statement from the Egyptian cabinet.

During the meeting, Madbouly emphasized that his government is “moving strongly towards supporting and strengthening economic, trade, and investment relations between Cairo and Mogadishu,” read the statement.

Madbouly also expressed Egypt’s readiness to export commodities to Somalia to support the needs of its citizens.

Somalia is grappling with security issues as its breakaway Somaliland region signed a controversial deal with Ethiopia in early January that would allow Addis Ababa to lease a 20 km section of its coastline for five decades. Somalia, which regards Somaliland as part of its territory, rejects the deal as a violation against its sovereignty.

Madbouly affirmed Egypt’s commitment to providing the necessary support to Somalia in all fields and upholding its unity and sovereignty.

Achieving the unity of Somalia and supporting our Somali brothers at this stage is one of the top priorities of the Egyptian state, the Egyptian prime minister was quoted as saying.

For his part, Barre said that cooperation between Somalia and Egypt covers political, commercial, and investment fields, as well as culture and education.

He noted recent “great progress” in Somali-Egyptian relations, referring to the direct flights between Cairo and Mogadishu since July and the opening of a new Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu earlier in August.

The Somali prime minister also “expressed appreciation for Egypt’s support under this critical circumstance,” according to the Egyptian cabinet’s statement.