His remarks came during a meeting he convened Friday with US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa (SEHOA) Mike Hammer and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee in continuation of the series of meetings he is having during his current visit to Washington, according to foreign ministry spokesman Tamim Khallaf.

The top Egyptian diplomat stressed Egypt's keenness to support efforts to achieve stability and restore security in the countries of the Horn of Africa, as well as to combat terrorism, extremism and organized crime in this area which is vital for regional and international security and for safeguarding global shipping movement in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Khallaf said.

The minister affirmed Egypt’s keenness to work for strengthening peace, security and sustainable development efforts in the African continent, highlighting the Egyptian leadership’s leading role in the post-conflict reconstruction and development file of the African Union, in addition to Egypt’s hosting of the African Union Center for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (AUCPCRD) and the establishment of Cairo International Center on Conflict Resolution, Preservation and Peacebuilding (CCCPA), the spokesman added.

Also, he confirmed Egypt’s keenness to achieve stability in Somalia by supporting its state institutions, promoting respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as supporting efforts of the Somali federal government to realize security, combat terrorism and have control over all Somali national soil, Khallaf said. He pointed out that Egypt’s stance emanates from its responsibility toward contributing to the maintenance of regional and international peace and security in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter, the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the Arab League Charter, the spokesman added.

Pursuant to this, Egypt is providing support to the Somali brothers in the areas of building security and military capabilities, in light of its longstanding experience and leadership in the field of combating terrorism, realizing security and enforcing law, Abdelatty went on to say.

According to the spokesman, the meeting saw the exchange of views between both sides on a number of regional issues of mutual concern, especially the ongoing arrangements for the new African Union mission to Somalia and the importance of promoting stability in Somalia, which is vital for securing global trade movement in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, combating terrorism, cross-border organized crime and illegal migration to Europe.