By Egypt and Somalia signed a defense pact Wednesday to bolster security cooperation.
The pact was signed after bilateral talks between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his Somali counterpart, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was on a two-day visit to Cairo.
Somalia said it is a “significant defense agreement between Somalia and Egypt, aimed at bolstering security cooperation between the two brotherly nations.”
At a news conference with El-Sisi, Mohamud said the “historic” pact is a testament to a future of common defense against international terrorism that Somalia is battling at home and abroad.
“The agreement serves as a blueprint for the exchange of knowledge and expertise in the pursuit of regional, continental, and international peace and security,” the Somali presidential palace said in a statement.
Enhanced Security Capabilities, The agreement provides Somalia access to Egypt’s military expertise, training, and equipment, which can significantly boost the Somali security forces’ ability to counter threats from terrorist groups like Al-Shabaab. This could lead to more effective counterterrorism operations and improved stability within Somalia.
Egypt offered to support a new African Union peacekeeping mission to Somalia that will replace the current mission force.
The value of Egyptian exports to Somalia increased to $54 million in the first 11 months of 2023, compared to $42.3 million during the period in 2022, an increase of 27.7% as the value of Somalia exports to Egypt stabilized at $2.2 million, according to the Egyptian Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
