Egypt supports Somalia’s unity, opposes unilateral recognition, FM tells Somali counterpart

Egypt backs Somalia’s unity, rejects unilateral recognition at AU summit

Friday February 13, 2026

Photo courtesy of Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Egypt reaffirmed its support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity and rejected any unilateral steps that could fragment the country, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said during talks with Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Ali on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.

Abdelatty “categorically” rejected any unilateral recognition affecting Somalia’s territorial unity and warned against the establishment of “parallel entities” outside internationally recognized legal frameworks, according to a statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said such moves violate international law and threaten the stability of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.

The remarks echoed earlier statements by Cairo and regional partners following Israel’s unilateral recognition of North Western State of Somalia as an independent state in December. North Western State of Somalia, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has not been recognized by any United Nations member state.

The meeting in Addis Ababa built on momentum from Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s visit to Cairo on Feb. 8, which Abdelatty described as a step forward in deepening the strategic partnership and broadening political, security and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Abdelatty highlighted the participation of Egyptian forces in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) as a marker of trust and long-term commitment to Somalia’s stability. He pointed to a lineup of Egyptian troops assigned to AUSSOM that was displayed during a ceremony on Tuesday attended by senior military commanders and the Somali president, praising the force’s “competence, discipline and professionalism.”

“This deployment embodies the Egyptian military’s readiness, advanced capabilities, and commitment to carrying out national and regional missions, reaffirming its role as a cornerstone of security and stability in the region and across Africa,” Abdelatty was quoted as saying.

Beyond security coordination, Abdelatty said Egypt would prioritize economic and investment ties with Somalia and work to expand bilateral trade. He also underscored Cairo’s continued support for capacity building across Somali state institutions, including through training programs offered by Egyptian government bodies and the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development.

Abdelatty voiced support for securing sustainable funding for the African Union mission to ensure it can effectively carry out its mandate. He reiterated Egypt’s backing for Somali efforts to combat militancy and strengthen security institutions as Mogadishu seeks to consolidate gains across the country.

For his part, Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Ali thanked Egypt for hosting a session of the African Union Peace and Security Council under its chairmanship to discuss developments in Somalia. He praised Cairo’s role in supporting Somalia’s unity and in mobilizing African and international backing for Somali institutions, the Egyptian statement said.

Egypt has framed its stance as aligned with regional stability and international law, arguing that any recognition or redrawing of Somalia’s borders outside agreed processes risks widening insecurity in the Horn of Africa and along key maritime corridors connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Cairo’s engagement at the AU summit signals it will continue to leverage diplomatic, security and development channels to reinforce Somalia’s sovereignty while seeking broader consensus among African states on how to address breakaway claims.

The foreign ministers’ talks in Addis Ababa concluded with commitments to maintain high-level consultations, accelerate technical cooperation and coordinate within African and international forums on issues affecting Somalia’s security and state-building priorities, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.