Somali president receives delegation from Egypt amid row over Ethiopia’s port deal

By Mohamed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with a high-level delegation from Egypt at the State House in Mogadishu, his office said Monday.

The delegation reiterated Cairo’s “unwavering” support for Somalia's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, according to a statement issued by the Somali presidency.

The statement said the delegation also emphasized “the paramount importance of respecting these fundamental principles and firmly stated their opposition to any actions that would encroach upon them.”

It also conveyed an official invitation for Mohamud to visit Egypt.

Egypt announced its stance on an initial agreement that landlocked Ethiopia signed earlier this month with Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland which will give it access to the sea through the Red Sea port of Berbera and said Cairo will stand by Somalia and provide support for its security and stability after the leaders of the two countries spoke by phone.

Mohamud, who is currently in Eritrea for a two- day state visit, has signed a law that nullifies the sea access deal.

Ethiopia lost its Red Sea ports in the early 1990s after the Eritrean War of Independence, which lasted from 1961 to 1991.

In 1991, Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia, leading to the establishment of two separate nations. The separation resulted in Ethiopia losing direct access to the Red Sea and key ports.

Ethiopia has since been landlocked, affecting its ability to conduct efficient maritime trade.

Ethiopia and Egypt have been engaged in a lukewarm relationship for years over Ethiopia’s Nile Dam project.​​​​​​​

Last month, Egypt declared a dead end in Renaissance Dam negotiations with Ethiopia and Sudan and vowed to defend its water and national security if they are violated.