U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed Somalia and broader Horn of Africa security in a phone call Thursday, with Cairo reiterating its firm opposition to any recognition of North Western State of Somalia and signaling plans to deploy troops to Somalia as part of a reconfigured African Union mission, according to statements from both governments.
Both sides said the conversation focused on preserving stability in the Horn at a moment of rising regional volatility. Abdelatty underscored what he called the imperative of safeguarding the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia and Eritrea. The emphasis reflects Egypt’s expanding diplomatic and security footprint along the Red Sea and in the Horn, where competition among regional and Gulf-aligned partners has intensified and where fragile political transitions and insurgent threats continue to test state institutions.
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Reiterating a long-standing position, Abdelatty rejected any move to recognize North Western State of Somalia, the self-declared republic that announced independence from Somalia in 1991 but lacks broad international recognition. He characterized such recognition as a violation of international law and an affront to Somalia’s sovereignty. The minister warned that steps toward formal recognition could carry serious consequences for the Horn of Africa and the wider Red Sea region, a strategically vital maritime corridor for energy shipments and global trade. The question of North Western State of Somalia’s status has gained renewed attention amid shifting security alignments and diplomatic outreach across the region.
Egypt is expected to deploy troops to Somalia in the coming weeks as part of the newly reconfigured African Union mission supporting Somali security forces, officials said. The move would mark a notable deepening of Cairo’s engagement with Mogadishu, building on months of stepped-up cooperation as Somali authorities confront al-Shabab militants and seek to consolidate gains by national forces. Egyptian involvement in the AU mission also situates Cairo more prominently in an arena where regional states vie for influence and where maritime security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden is closely linked to conditions onshore.
The U.S. State Department said Rubio thanked Abdelatty for Egypt’s assistance in facilitating the safe return of American citizens through Egyptian territory during recent regional unrest. Washington has leaned on Egypt’s logistical reach and relationships during emergencies in the broader Middle East, even as both capitals navigate complex regional crises and great-power competition.
The call came against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East, including Iranian strikes that targeted U.S. military assets in the Gulf and attacks against Israel. Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s condemnation of assaults on Gulf states as well as Jordan, Iraq, Turkey and Azerbaijan, saying there is no justification for violations of state sovereignty. Cairo’s messaging on sovereignty dovetails with its stance on Somalia’s territorial integrity and its opposition to any steps that might redraw borders or embolden breakaway regions.
The engagement between Rubio and Abdelatty underscores a shared interest by Washington and Cairo in containing spillover risks in the Horn of Africa and along the Red Sea corridor. With Egypt poised to contribute troops to the African Union mission and publicly opposing recognition of North Western State of Somalia, the diplomatic and security stakes in Somalia are set to rise as regional actors recalibrate their positions and Somali authorities press ahead with state-building efforts.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
