Sisi, Djibouti’s FM discuss Red Sea Security

CAIRO - 13 September 2019: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, head of the African Union for 2019, and Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf discussed the latest developments in the African continent and the ways of securing Red Sea on Thursday, said Egyptian Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Radi in a statement.

Youssouf delivered president Sisi a message from Djibouti counterpart Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, who praised the historic relations between the two countries, Radi added.

President Sisi affirmed Egypt's keenness to strengthen its relations with Djibouti to raise the level of strategic partnership, in light of Egypt's vision of Djibouti as a major partner in the region and its role in achieving the objectives of economic development, security and stability in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, Radi said.

“In his letter, President Guelleh also expressed appreciation for President El Sisi’s wise leadership of the African Union. He underscored his confidence in Egypt’s success to strengthen frameworks of joint African action during its AU chairmanship in a way that shall contribute to achieving the desired sustainable development for the countries and peoples of Africa, notably by realizing continental integration and amalgamation and by pushing forward efforts to preserve peace and security in Africa,” Radi was quoted as saying in the statement.

“The two sides looked forward to convening the fifth round of the Egypt- Djibouti Joint Committee at the soonest possible time. They also lauded the role played by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD) in enhancing bilateral relations by providing medical assistance and training sessions to build the capacity of Djiboutian cadres in various fields, emanating from Egypt’s keenness on meeting the developmental needs of Djibouti,” he added.

Early September, Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tareq el Molla and Djibouti’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Yonis Ali Guedi discussed ways of cooperation in the activities of petroleum, natural gas and mineral resources.

They tackled the possibility of Egyptian petroleum companies’ participation in implementing new projects in Djibouti in the fields of natural gas and logistics in light of their experiences.