Saturday July 13, 2024
Mogadishu (HOL) - The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Badr Abdel Aty, reiterated the Egyptian government's full support for the unity and independence of Somalia during the inaugural ceremony of biweekly Egypt Air flights in Mogadishu on Friday.
At the press conference, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty described the opening of a direct flight line between Somalia and Egypt as a historic event reflecting the two countries' deep relationship. He conveyed greetings from President El-Sisi to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Badr Abdel Aty congratulated the Somali people on their Independence Day celebration and praised Somalia's election as a member of the Security Council. He emphasized the importance of the two countries discussing regional challenges together and called for respect for the principles of good neighbourliness.
"The Egyptian government is very interested in the unity and independence of Somalia and supports the efforts of the Somali government to prevent any attempts to undermine its independence. Egypt stands by Somalia and is ready to help in all possible ways," he said.
In January 2024, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stated that Cairo stands shoulder to shoulder with Somalia and criticized Ethiopia's agreement with Somaliland to obtain access to the sea and establish a marine force base. He emphasized that Egypt will not allow anyone to threaten Somalia or affect its security.
For his part, Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Faqi emphasized the new initiative's significant boost in economic tourism and investment growth.
The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation of Somalia, Mrs. Ferdous Usman Eghal, the Minister of Civil Aviation of Egypt, Dr. Sameh Al-Hafni, and other officials from both countries attended the inauguration ceremony at Aden Adde International Airport.
Launching the direct airline is seen as a turning point in the relationship between Somalia and Egypt. It reflects the two governments' broader vision to deepen their cooperation across various sectors, including politics, security, economy, transport, civil aviation, trade, culture, higher education, health, and multifaceted training.