Egypt condemns Israeli appointment of diplomatic envoy to so-called ‘Somalilandand’

CAIRO- 18 April 2026:  Following directives from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptians Abroad Badr Abdelatty met on Saturday, April 18, with Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Somalia, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. Abdelatty affirmed Egypt’s rejection and condemnation of appointment of diplomatic envoy to so-called “Somalilandand.”

Minister Abdelatty conveyed the greetings of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to the Somali President, along with his wishes for continued peace, stability, and prosperity for Somalia. He praised the deep-rooted historical and fraternal ties between the two countries, reaffirming Egypt’s steadfast support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, as well as its national institutions. He also stressed Egypt’s firm rejection of any unilateral actions that could undermine Somalia’s unity.

The Foreign Minister expressed Egypt’s condemnation of Israel’s recognition of the so-called Somalilandand the appointment of a diplomatic envoy, describing it as a clear violation of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and the Constitutive Act of the African Union.

He further emphasized Egypt’s commitment to supporting Somalia across political, military, security, and humanitarian fields, highlighting the importance of Somalia’s stability for the broader security of the Horn of Africa, given the close interconnection of regional security dynamics.

For his part, President Mohamud asked the Foreign Minister to convey his greetings to President El-Sisi, expressing his deep appreciation for Egypt’s consistent support. He reaffirmed Somalia’s keenness to strengthen cooperation with Egypt in a manner that serves mutual interests and promotes stability in the Horn of Africa.

Minister Abdel-Aty commended the positive momentum in bilateral relations, noting key developments such as the launch of direct flights by EgyptAir between the two countries, the signing of a military cooperation protocol in August 2024, the full relocation of the Egyptian Embassy to Mogadishu, and the elevation of relations to a strategic partnership in January 2025. He stressed the importance of sustaining high-level consultations to further activate this partnership.

He also underscored Egypt’s interest in increasing trade exchange and expanding exports to the Somali market, particularly in pharmaceuticals and high-quality, competitively priced industrial products. In addition, he highlighted ongoing cooperation through institutions such as the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development and the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding.

The Foreign Minister reiterated Egypt’s commitment to supporting Somalia’s capacity-building efforts, particularly in strengthening security and stability and addressing challenges related to terrorism and extremism. He also emphasized the importance of securing sustainable funding for the African Union Mission in Somalia to enable it to effectively carry out its mandate, especially in light of the anticipated deployment of Egyptian forces within the mission.