Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Ati announced on Monday that his country will send soldiers to Somalia to participate in the peacekeeping forces of the African Union.
Relations between Egypt and this country have strengthened after Cairo criticized an agreement between Addis Ababa and Somaliland to build a port for Ethiopia in the secessionist republic.
During a press conference in Cairo, Minister Abdel Ati told his Somali counterpart Ahmed Moallem Faki: “Egypt’s decision to participate in the mission comes at the request of the Somali government, and also at the welcome of the peace and Security Council of the African Union . “
Thus, Cairo will participate in the African peacekeeping mission known as OSOM, which will replace the counter-terrorism force, whose mission is expected to end at the end of this year.
The Egyptian foreign minister added that he had spoken to Minister Faki “about the situation in Somalia and the Egyptian support for the imposition of state authorities and sovereignty over the entire Somali territory, and the complete rejection of any unilateral measures that affect the unity, integrity and sovereignty of brotherly Somalia.
There may be a connection between Egypt’s participation in the African peacekeeping mission and other regional files to which Cairo is a party. A dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia erupted this year over Addis Ababa’s plan to build a port in the breakaway republic of Somaliland.
This step did not go unnoticed, as some saw it as an attempt that would aggravate the instability in the Horn of Africa region. After talks brokered by Turkey, Somalia and Ethiopia said they would work together to resolve the issue.
Months ago, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s firm position not to interfere in the internal affairs of Somalia or prejudice its territorial integrity. “Any attempt to seize territory by force will not be accepted,”he said.
The two countries signed a security agreement, after which Egypt handed over weapons and ammunition to Somalia, including anti-aircraft guns and artillery. The news was confirmed by Somali diplomatic sources. It was the first time Cairo had provided such assistance in more than four decades.
