Written by: Badr Ahmed

A high-level Egyptian delegation, headed by the Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister for African Affairs, Ambassador Mohamed Karim Fouad Khneif, arrived in the Somali capital on an official visit aimed at supporting the partnership between the two sides in a number of vital sectors, most notably the oil and mineral resources sectors, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between Egypt and Somalia and expand the prospects for economic and technical cooperation between the two countries.

The visit included an extensive meeting between the Egyptian delegation and the Somali Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, where the two sides discussed ways to develop joint cooperation and benefit from accumulated Egyptian expertise in the fields of research, exploration and management of natural resources, in order to support economic development efforts in Somalia and enhance investment opportunities in the energy sector.

A new partnership between Egypt and Somalia to support development in the natural resources sector.

The discussions focused on a number of files of common interest, including training, qualification and capacity-building programs for Somali national cadres, the exchange of technical and knowledge-based expertise between the relevant institutions in the two countries, in addition to discussing mechanisms for developing institutions operating in the oil and mining sectors and raising their efficiency in line with modern international standards.

Both sides stressed the importance of strengthening technical and institutional cooperation as one of the main pillars for achieving sustainable development and optimal exploitation of natural resources, noting that the exchange of experiences and successful practices would contribute to supporting economic development plans and creating new opportunities for investment and growth.

This visit comes amid growing Egyptian-Somali relations in recent years, with cooperation between the two countries witnessing significant momentum in numerous political, economic, security, and developmental fields. It also reflects Cairo's commitment to supporting development efforts in Somalia and promoting stability in the Horn of Africa through partnerships based on cooperation and shared interests.

Observers believe that strengthening cooperation in the oil and mineral resources sectors represents an important step towards expanding the areas of economic partnership between the two countries, especially in light of Somalia’s promising potential and natural resources, and Egypt’s extensive technical and institutional expertise in managing and developing energy and mining projects.

The results of this visit are expected to open new horizons for joint cooperation, supporting economic development efforts and strengthening strategic relations between Cairo and Mogadishu in the coming period.