Somalia's PM Roble holds talks with Egyptian counterpart

CAIRO, Egypt - Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble held talks with his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo, upon his arrival for official working duty, which comes days after he visited Kenya, where he held talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta on cooperation between Kenya and Somalia.

At Cairo, Roble was ushered in by Moustafa Madbouly, the Egyptian Prime Minister, with whom he held talks. A statement dispatched from the Office of the Prime Minister indicated that the two discussed bilateral ties between Egypt and Somalia.

Key among them, OPM said, Roble and Moustafa Madbouly discussed on possibilities of Egypt increasing scholarships to Somali students, facilitating migration, trade, and investment.

"Prime Minister of the federal republic of Somalia Mohamed Hussein Roble and his delegation held bilateral ties with his Egyptian counterpart and his delegation this evening in Cairo," the Office of the Prime Minister noted.

"Both sides focused on strengthening long-standing ties and senior cooperation between the two nations. They also discussed possibilities of Egypt increasing her education scholarships for Somali students, facilitating migration, trade, and investment."

His trip comes amid ongoing elections in Somalia, which are set to conclude in October upon the election of the federal president. The outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo is set to defend his seat and would probably face a united opposition.

Today, Roble is set to meet Egypt President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, who has been having interests within the Horn of Africa. Cairo is involved in a dispute with war-torn Ethiopia, over the ongoing construction of the Nile Dam along the Blue Nile.

Last year, Somalia offered to mediate the conflict but to date, no solution has been reached. Ethiopia is also embroiled in an internal conflict that is spilling all over the country but it's not clear if the two leaders will have a talk over the same.

GAROWE ONLINE