It is time to activate bilateral relations in many fields: Sisi

CAIRO – 20 Aug 2017: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi received on Sunday his Somali counterpart, President Mohammed Abdullahi "Farmajo" Mohammed, at Cairo International Airport.

Sisi warmly welcomed the Somali president, where the two held talks on how to promote bilateral ties and enhance the relations between both countries. The two presidents also discussed regional and African issues of common interest.

This is the first visit for the Somali president since being elected. A formal reception ceremony has been held in the Ittihadia Presidential Palace.

The president also praised the distinguished and historic relations between Egypt and Somalia, stressing Egypt's intention to continue providing all support to Somalia during the next phase to build and consolidate the institutions of the state, especially the Somali National Army.

The African-Egyptian relations has been at the top of Sisi’s priorities since taking office, as his first participation in the African Union Summit on June 2014 in the Equatorial Guinea was considered a restoration of the country's relations with other nations of the continent after years of neglect during Mubarak’s era.