Somali Prime Minister Roble visits Egypt days after Nairobi trip
MOGADISHU, Somalia – Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble will be visiting Cairo, Egypt in the coming days, The Axadlereported, just days after completing a three-day tour of Kenya, which reportedly raised questions at Villa Somalia.
While in Nairobi, Roble anchored his message on the need for a concrete bilateral relationship with Kenya, which has suffered many setbacks over the past year. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta also pledged to ensure that diplomatic relations are fully restored.
There were concerns that Uhuru had asked Roble to consider an amicable settlement for the Indian Ocean maritime border dispute, which is currently under deliberation in The Hague. However, the prime minister’s office denied this information.
While Axadlehas not set the main schedule for Roble’s planned trip to Egypt, it does come as Somalia holds elections. A number of key states including Northeastern State and the South West have already concluded senatorial elections.
On August 7, Roble met Egyptian Ambassador to Somalia Mohamed Ibrahim Nasr in his office in Mogadishu, discussed the ties between the people and the two governments and how to strengthen their cooperation.
Roble, who has been widely praised for leading the exercise, has yet to openly articulate what he intends to do to end the standoff. North Western of Somaliausually elects representatives to the federal parliament, but back in Hargeisa, there is a formidable independent government in Mogadishu.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Roble received Egyptian Ambassador Mohamed Ibrahim Nasr in his office to discuss the deep bilateral relations between the two countries and cooperation in various fields. The Foreign Ministry said Cairo will deliver COVID-19 supplies to Mogadishu on August 12 to help fight the virus.
Last year, some claimed that Egypt wanted to build a military base in Somaliland, which angered Mogadishu. Cairo, according to reports, believed such a base would help expand its dominance in the Horn of Africa, which Ethiopia objected to.
In addition, Mogadishu had offered to reconcile Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan over the controversial Nile Dam, which Egypt had raised questions about. To date, filling the dam has been a major problem, raising suspicions in both Cairo and Addis Ababa.
Full details of Roble’s impending trip are still scarce. Over the past eight months, Roble has made a few trips outside of Somalia, which has also raised concerns that he may decide to join the presidential race in October.
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