Cairo — Egypt has condemned the self-declared region of Somaliland’s opening of a purported embassy in occupied East Jerusalem, describing the move as a violation of international law, while calling for renewed efforts to secure the release of eight Egyptian sailors held by Somali pirates.
The issues were discussed during talks in Cairo on Sunday between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and his Somali counterpart, Abdisalam Abdi Ali.
According to Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Tamim Khalaf, Mr Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s “full support” for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the preservation of its national institutions.
He reiterated Cairo’s “categorical rejection of any unilateral measures” that undermine Somalia’s sovereignty, describing Somaliland’s purported diplomatic mission in occupied Jerusalem as “an illegal and unacceptable step” that violates international law and relevant international resolutions. He said the move also undermined the city’s legal and historical status.
The ministers also discussed the case of eight Egyptian sailors who remain among the crew of the MT Eureka, a Togo-flagged oil tanker hijacked by Somali pirates in May.
Mr Abdelatty urged Somali authorities to continue efforts to secure the sailors’ release and ensure their safety, calling for sustained engagement to resolve the crisis.
Beyond security issues, the talks focused on expanding cooperation between Egypt and Somalia, with both sides highlighting what Mr Abdelatty described as growing momentum in bilateral relations.
The Egyptian foreign minister called for closer collaboration in areas including security, trade, infrastructure, electricity, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, agricultural processing and food manufacturing. He also stressed the need to increase bilateral trade and strengthen investment and development partnerships.
Mr Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to supporting Somalia’s state-building efforts and strengthening its institutions, particularly in combating terrorism and violent extremism.
He highlighted training programmes provided by Egyptian institutions, including the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development and the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, saying they could help strengthen Somalia’s institutional capacity and develop its workforce.
The minister also called for closer regional and international coordination to combat terrorism and disrupt its sources of support. He urged international partners to provide sustainable funding for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, saying adequate financial backing was essential for the mission to fulfil its mandate.
For his part, Mr Ali thanked Egypt for its continued political, development and security assistance, praising Cairo’s consistent support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He also reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to maintaining close coordination and consultation with Egypt on issues of mutual interest.
The eight Egyptians are among the 22-member crew of the MT Eureka, which was seized by Somali pirates on 2 May after departing Yemeni waters and taken towards Somalia’s Puntland region. The crew also includes several Indian nationals.
The vessel has remained anchored off the Somali coast since the hijacking.
Negotiations over the crew’s release reportedly stalled after the pirates increased their ransom demands. However, the Egyptian Marine Officers Union said on 30 June that the vessel owner’s Yemeni partner and the captors had subsequently reached an agreement, placing the negotiations in what it described as a decisive stage, pending completion of the ransom payment.
The union said the pirates were pressing for the payment to be completed quickly amid concerns that Somali security forces could attempt a rescue operation.
It added that mediation efforts were continuing through several channels while pressure was being placed on the shipowner to complete the necessary procedures without placing the hostages at greater risk.
