Egypt and Djibouti back Somalia’s unity, expand regional cooperation talks in Cairo

CAIRO — Egypt and Djibouti on Wednesday reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity and discussed ways to expand cooperation in trade, energy and infrastructure, according to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry.

The talks took place in Cairo between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Djiboutian counterpart, Abdulqader Hussein Omar, on the sidelines of a fifth consultative meeting aimed at improving coordination on peace efforts in Sudan.

The two ministers reviewed developments in the Horn of Africa and reiterated their rejection and condemnation of Israel’s recognition of the self-declared Somaliland region, the ministry said.

Both sides stressed their firm support for Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and rejected any unilateral actions that could undermine stability in the region. They also affirmed backing for Somalia’s internationally recognized state institutions and opposed any attempts to establish parallel entities that could threaten national unity.

The ministers further dismissed any link between the Somalia issue and plans related to the displacement of Palestinians, the statement said.

Abdelatty also reiterated Egypt’s strong support for Yemen’s unity and territorial integrity, calling for an inclusive Yemeni-led political dialogue to restore peace and stability. He urged restraint and de-escalation amid ongoing regional tensions.

The Egyptian foreign minister welcomed what he described as growing momentum in Egypt-Djibouti relations and emphasized the importance of continued coordination to implement joint projects in energy, infrastructure and logistics. He highlighted efforts to strengthen trade ties, including the recent opening of a branch of Banque Misr in Djibouti.

Both countries expressed their intention to convene the next meeting of the Egypt-Djibouti Business Council to boost trade in line with their strategic partnership.

The meeting concluded with a joint commitment to continue consultations on regional and international issues and to support efforts to strengthen peace, security and stability across Africa, particularly in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.

GAROWE ONLINE