Egypt affirms readiness to assist Somalia with combating terrorism, overcoming challenges ensued from drought

CAIRO - 9 January 2023: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shokry met Monday with his Somalian counterpart Absher Omar Gamea to confer over bolstering bilateral relations and coordination on matters of mutual interest, capitalizing on the momentum the ties between both countries are experiencing.

Minister Absher is visiting Egypt as member of a Somalian delegation headed by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Bari.

Minister Shokry underscored Egypt's full solidarity with Somalia in the face of terrorism as well as its constant readiness to support Somalian forces in that realm and help the country deal with the daunting humanitarian and developmental challenges ensued from drought. That is in addition to providing medical aid and food.

The Egyptian minister stipulated that Egypt is keen on security and stability in Somalia, given its strategic location on the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the press statement indicated.

The two ministers tackled the MoUs that will be signed by the prime ministers of both countries during the visit, and the status of security in Somalia and the Horn of Africa, as well as ways of supporting the peacekeeping process carried out by the African Union (AU) in Somalia.

On his side, the Somalian minister lauded the existing cooperation with Egypt in the fields of healthcare and education among others, highlighting the Somalian people's confidence in Egypt. Bari also thanked Egypt for delivering training courses to Somalian professionals, as well as granting scholarships to Somalian students.