Egypt's president El-Sisi: We will not allow anybody to threaten Somalia

CAIRO, Egypt - Egyptian President Abdulfattah El-Sisi has come into a strong defense of the Federal Republic of Somalia, insisting that Cairo will not allow anyone to threaten Mogadishu, a 'friend in deed' for over a long period.

The Egyptian leader hosted Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, in a meeting where the recent infringement by Ethiopia on Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty was deeply discussed. Egypt has backed Somalia following the standoff.

During the meeting on Sunday, El-Sisi, a critic of Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, maintained that as a member of the Arab League of Nations, Somalia should be defended by member states following the onslaught by Ethiopia, which has since signed an agreement with Somaliland.

"Somalia is an Arab country and has rights that are enshrined in the Arab League Charter in the common defense against any threat to it, and Egypt will not allow anyone to threaten Somalia or harm its National security," El-Sisi said in his fierce statement.

"It is not in anyone’s interest to test Egypt’s patience and threaten its brothers, especially if they requested Egypt's intervention," added El-Sisi during a press conference with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Cairo.

He reiterated Egypt's firm rejection of the Ethiopia-Somaliland Red Sea agreement which Somalia described as an act of aggression and a clear violation of its sovereignty by Addis Ababa. El-Sisi is the first African president to openly castigate Abiy Ahmed.

The agreement, if fully implemented, would see Ethiopia getting 20 kilometers of the Red Sea and Somaliland getting international recognition. Although running a parallel government, Somaliland is recognized as a state within Somalia.

Abiy Ahmed has been under immense presence lately, with several leaders accusing him of instigating chaos within the Horn of Africa. Several countries have expressed displeasure with his agreement with Somaliland, a state within Somalia.

Redwan Hussien, the National Security Advisor to PM Abiy Ahmed, maintained that Ethiopia is only after leasing land from Somaliland and that it was 'least interested in grabbing the land'. The Arab League of Nations had also condemned the MoU signed by the two sides.

GAROWE ONLINE