Friday, July 4, 2025 – HAN
Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, took part in a virtual meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) at the ministerial level.
This meeting focused on Somalia’s political and security progress and the transition process from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
The minister reaffirmed Egypt’s consistent support for the security, stability, unity, and territorial integrity of Somalia.
Badr Abdelatty praised the Somali government’s efforts to restore security and stability, strengthen good governance, and build national institutions across the country. He also reiterated Egypt’s solidarity with the Somali government and people, emphasizing Egypt’s commitment to supporting the strengthening of Somali national institutions and the gradual transfer of security responsibilities to Somali security forces.
The minister expressed Egypt’s concern over the current security challenges in Somalia, particularly those posed by terrorist groups like Al-Shabaab. He stressed the importance of a smooth and coordinated transition from ATMIS to AUSSOM.
He stated that every step taken is essential to safeguard the security gains achieved so far and to prevent areas of insecurity from being exploited. The Foreign Minister also underlined the need for sustainable and adequate financial support for AUSSOM to enable it to fully carry out its mandate. He warned that without sufficient funding, the mission’s capacity could decline, which would have repercussions for the entire Horn of Africa and the international community, disrupt maritime trade routes, and increase terrorist threats.
Finally, Minister Badr Abdelatty affirmed Egypt’s commitment to continue supporting Somalia at both bilateral and international levels. This includes programs to build institutional capacity, train personnel, support security and civil institutions, and contribute to humanitarian assistance.
Egypt and Somalia have a history of cooperation and interaction dating back to ancient times, with more significant diplomatic and political ties emerging in the mid-20th century, particularly around Somalia’s independence.
