Egypt’s Foreign Minister held talks with Somalia’s counterpart on Monday in Cairo, focusing on key issues related to the Red Sea and developments in Somaliland.
The meeting took place roughly a month after Ethiopia and Somalia agreed to begin “technical talks” aimed at resolving tensions triggered by Ethiopia’s agreement with Somaliland, the breakaway region of Somalia.
Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi emphasized that the discussions had been successful in preventing further violence in the region, which could have sparked a crisis jeopardizing everyone’s interests.
Turkey has been playing a mediation role between the two East African nations since tensions escalated following Ethiopia’s signing of a deal with Somaliland in January to lease land for a marine base. In exchange, Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland’s independence, a move that Somalia sees as a violation of its sovereignty.
The agreement reached called for talks to begin by February 2025 and conclude within four months. These negotiations would aim to respect Somalia’s territorial integrity while exploring the “potential benefits” of Ethiopia gaining access to the sea.
Fiqi praised the deal, highlighting that it upheld Somalia’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stressed the Red Sea’s strategic importance, declaring that any presence by non-coastal nations in the region was unacceptable.
In a joint statement, the two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to advancing bilateral ties to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership.
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