Somalia’s security part of Egypt’s national security: FM

CAIRO - 6 March 2019: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received his Somali counterpart Ahmed Eissa Awad on Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations, regional affairs of mutual interest, and Egyptian support to Somalia to rebuild its state institutions and achieve security and stability.

Awad presented the developments on the Somali scene including measures taken to rebuild state institutions and develop security forces, increasing its effectiveness with regard to combating terrorism and extremism.

Shoukry stated that Somalia’s security is part of Egypt’s national security, highlighting that the Egyptian political leadership is eager to boost cooperation with Somalia in different realms with the goal of preserving its unity, sovereignty, and stability.

The Somali minister asserted that his country wants peace and cooperation with all as he displayed the qualifications of Somali citizens who work in regional countries.

The minister hailed the momentum the Egyptian-Somalities are experiencing pointing out to the mutual cooperation in various technical aspects including countering terrorism. He added that Egypt looks forward to signing memoranda of understanding (MOUs) proposed by Somalia regarding political consultation, the formation of a joint ministerial committee, and cooperation between diplomacy educational establishments in both countries.

The Egyptian minister asserted Egypt’s willingness to support Somalia’s economic development endeavors through both bilateral cooperation and Egypt’s chairmanship of the African Union (AU).

Shoukry displayed the arrangements taking place to hold the second Egyptian-Somali Business Forum in the near future in order to boost trade and investments between both countries. The minister added that countries in East Africa and the African Horn must cooperate in new sectors.

Shoukry congratulated Awad for chairing the Arab Foreign Ministers Meeting held on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Arab League in the Egyptian capital.

Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab Group has been launching terror attacks in Somalia, which is an African state bordering the Red Sea, for almost a decade.