NEW YORK — Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, met with his Egyptian counterpart, Dr. Badr Abdelatty, in New York on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The meeting focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between Somalia and Egypt, with discussions covering bilateral cooperation, regional security, and coordination on issues affecting the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.
According to Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdelatty stressed Egypt’s commitment to further developing bilateral ties with Somalia across economic, development, investment, and health sectors. He also highlighted preparations for Egypt to host the Alamein Africa Business Forum from 2 to 4 October.
Egypt Reaffirms Support for Somalia’s Sovereignty
Abdelatty renewed Egypt’s full support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and the preservation of its national institutions. He firmly rejected any unilateral measures that could undermine Somali territorial unity or sovereignty. Egypt has consistently maintained this position, including during President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s visit to Cairo in February 2026, when President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi warned that actions by external actors to recognize Somaliland are contrary to international law.
The Egyptian minister also reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to supporting efforts to build Somali state institutions and strengthen their capacities through programmes organized by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development and Egyptian national institutions.
Minister Abdisalam thanked his Egyptian counterpart for Egypt’s role in supporting the rebuilding of Somalia. “We appreciate Egypt’s continued support for Somalia at the political, development and security levels,” he said.
AUSSOM Funding and Egyptian Troop Deployment
The two ministers discussed the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Abdelatty stressed the importance of working with international partners to secure sustainable funding for the mission, taking into account Egypt’s participation. Egypt has consistently advocated for sustainable funding for AUSSOM, with Abdelatty confirming in February 2026 that Egyptian forces are scheduled to join the mission.
Egypt has pledged 1,091 troops to AUSSOM, with officials saying the contingent would be deployed in the Middle Shabelle region. In February 2026, President Mohamud and Egypt’s Minister of Defence inspected Egyptian troops prior to their deployment, as reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the troop inspection.
Egypt’s military involvement in Somalia has grown to include approximately 10,000 personnel, helicopters and drones, making Cairo the most significant land-based military ally for Mogadishu alongside Türkiye, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Release of Detained Egyptian Sailors
Abdelatty also stressed the need to step up efforts to secure the swift release and safety of Egyptian sailors detained off the Somali coast. The eight Egyptian sailors have been held aboard the MT Eureka since the vessel was hijacked on 2 May and taken towards Somali territorial waters near Puntland, as detailed in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the hijacking.
Pirates have demanded a $10 million ransom for the release of the crew, which includes eight Egyptians and four Indians. The vessel, a Togo-flagged product tanker carrying approximately 2,800 tonnes of diesel, was boarded by armed attackers off the coast of Yemen’s Shabwa province and forced toward Somali waters. The crew’s families have reported that the captors have issued direct death threats and warned they will kill the hostages unless a ransom is paid within an extremely tight deadline, as reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the threats.
Egypt has been in contact with Somali and Yemeni authorities, as well as the vessel’s owner, in efforts to secure their release. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said it was maintaining intensive contacts with the relevant authorities to ensure the sailors’ swift release and provide them with adequate living conditions until they can return home.
The International Maritime Organization has issued an urgent appeal for the release of 44 seafarers held hostage by pirates off the Somali coast, warning that their humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly due to severe shortages of food and water and mounting security threats, as reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the IMO appeal.
Regional Security Coordination
The two ministers also discussed security and political developments in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, as well as ways to support regional stability, peace, and security. Both emphasized the importance of working together to prevent any threats that may arise in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.
Egypt has consistently maintained that the responsibility for securing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden rests exclusively with their littoral states. President El-Sisi reaffirmed this position during President Mohamud’s visit to Cairo, stating that Egypt would always remain a sincere partner and steadfast supporter of Somalia.
Critical Note
The meeting between the Somali and Egyptian foreign ministers is the latest in a series of high-level engagements that have defined the rapidly expanding Somalia-Egypt strategic partnership since it was elevated in January 2025. The frequency of these consultations reflects both the depth of the relationship and the urgency of the issues they address: Red Sea security, AUSSOM funding, and the release of detained sailors.
However, the relationship is not without complications. Egypt’s deployment to AUSSOM remains stalled by funding and logistical challenges, and Cairo’s broader strategic interest in Somalia is inseparable from its rivalry with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and Red Sea access. Egypt’s support for Somalia’s sovereignty serves both Mogadishu’s interests and Cairo’s regional positioning, but the alignment also embeds Somalia in a regional competition that could complicate its relations with other partners.
The detention of Egyptian sailors off Somalia’s coast adds a delicate dimension to the bilateral relationship. Egypt has been pressing Somalia for their release for months, and the issue underscores the security challenges in Somali waters that both countries have a shared interest in addressing. Whether this cooperation translates into improved maritime security and sustained funding for AUSSOM will determine the practical value of the strategic partnership beyond diplomatic declarations.