Turkey and Egypt reaffirm support for Somalia’s territorial integrity

CAIRO, Egypt - The governments of Egypt and Turkey have yet again reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty following Ethiopia's plans to encroach on sections of the Red Sea where it intends to build a military base and port.

Ethiopia had signed an agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, but the deal was dismissed as 'null and void' by Mogadishu. Since then, the two countries have been at loggerheads over the legality of the agreement.

Hakan Fidan, Turkish Foreign Affairs minister, and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty emphasized their stance at a press conference following their discussions in a recent meeting, officials said.

"We firmly reject any actions that undermine Somalia's unity and territorial integrity," Abdelatty said. As Turkish news agency Anadolu reported, Fidan echoed these sentiments, highlighting that both nations are committed to protecting Somalia's borders.

Already, the government of Somalia has expressed gratitude to Egyptians and Turkish for their timely support at the time the Ethiopian government has been threatening its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

"The Somali Foreign Minister thanks the Egyptian government for its unparalleled support and clear stance on Somalia's freedom and territorial integrity," Somalia's state media reported.

Turkey had previously tried to bring the Ethiopian government and the administration of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to the mediation table but not much progress has been made. The second round of talks is scheduled for September this year.

Turkey's involvement in Somalia dates back ten years to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's historic visit to Mogadishu. The country has also been instrumental in training and equipping the GorGor forces directly involved in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

GAROWE ONLINE