Egypt’s Sisi heads to UAE after talks with Somali leader in Cairo
CAIRO — Egypt’s presidency said President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is traveling to the United Arab Emirates for a fraternal visit to meet UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with talks focused on developments in the Horn of Africa.
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The trip comes shortly after al-Sisi hosted Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Cairo, underscoring how shifting alignments in the Horn are drawing intensified attention from key Arab and African partners.
In a statement, the Egyptian presidency said al-Sisi and Sheikh Mohamed will discuss regional security, political developments and efforts aimed at bolstering stability in the Horn of Africa — a region where overlapping security, commercial and geopolitical interests have sharpened in recent months.
The Cairo-Abu Dhabi talks follow a period of turbulence in Somalia’s ties with the UAE. Mogadishu has recently suspended security, defense and port-related agreements with the Emirates, a step that has been closely watched across the region as governments reassess alliances and interests around the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Egypt and Somalia moved to deepen their own coordination last year. The two countries signed a defense pact in August 2024 aimed at strengthening Somalia’s capabilities against terrorism and supporting broader regional stability. The agreement includes military support from Egypt, with shipments of arms and personnel already deployed, and it positions Cairo to participate in the new African Union mission, according to information shared alongside the pact’s announcement.
Egypt’s outreach to Abu Dhabi is expected to center on calibrating approaches to those dynamics, with the presidency signaling a focus on practical steps to support stability and security. No further details on the visit’s agenda or duration were immediately released.
Regional officials and diplomats say the Horn of Africa remains a priority arena for coordination among Arab partners given its proximity to critical maritime routes and its exposure to conflict spillovers and militant activity. While the Egyptian presidency did not elaborate on specific initiatives, the Cairo meetings with Somalia’s leader and the follow-on trip to the UAE underscore ongoing high-level consultations on how to manage risk and reinforce state institutions across the region.
Al-Sisi’s talks with Sheikh Mohamed come as both countries maintain active roles across the Middle East and Africa, often as conveners or backers of security and development efforts. Any signals emerging from the meetings on the future of Emirati engagement in Somalia, or on the practical rollout of the Egypt-Somalia defense cooperation, will be closely watched by regional capitals and international partners.
The Egyptian presidency framed the visit as part of sustained coordination with the UAE on issues of mutual concern, with the Horn of Africa rising on that shared agenda. Further updates are expected following the leaders’ talks.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
