El-Sisi: Egypt closely monitoring Ankara deal between Somalia and Ethiopia

CAIRO - Egypt shall closely monitor the recent agreement between Somalia and Ethiopia which was brokered in Ankara, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has said, while expressing optimism that the agreement shall help in the stabilization of the Horn of Africa.

Egypt has been closely monitoring the situation, having expressed interest in assisting Somalia to effectively handle the new mission dubbed the African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) which is set for enforcement from next year.

He expressed his "hope that this agreement would contribute to achieving security and stability in the Horn of Africa region and that it would be in line with the principles of international law."

Turkey agreed to broker a deal that brought together Somalia and Ethiopia after months of animosity. In a recent phone conversation between al-Sisi and French President Emmanuel Macron, the two leaders also emphasized the need to push for stability in the Horn of Africa.

The Egyptian president stressed "the close link between security and stability in the Horn of Africa and Egypt's national security."

“ Egypt is working to support Somalia in achieving security and stability, whether through bilateral cooperation or by participating in the African Union peacekeeping mission at Somalia's request," al-Sisi added.

Egypt is eager to contribute troops to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) but Ethiopia treats this move with contempt, adding that "external actors could sabotage the mission in Somalia".

To Ethiopia, Egypt is taking advantage of a few misunderstandings in the region to push for its own "selfish interests". Somalia has given the list of preferred numbers of soldiers each country participating in the new mission should contribute.

GAROWE ONLINE