Egypt looks to Somalia for more influence in Red Sea, Nile dam dispute
Egypt Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attended the inauguration of new Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, who faces a wide array of challenges.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attended June 9 the inauguration ceremony of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in the capital Mogadishu, in a rare visit by an Egyptian official of this caliber for several years.
Madbouly attended on behalf of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, along with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
In his inauguration speech, Mohamud asserted that he will focus on achieving popular reconciliation and political stability during his four-year term. Somalia is plagued by civil war, rebellion and conflict between armed clans amid the absence of a strong central government since the overthrow of Mohamed Siad Barre's autocratic rule in 1991.
Mohamud vowed to adopt a neutral foreign policy, not to engage in international conflicts and improve relations with neighboring countries. He also affirmed his quest for security cooperation with the international community, especially the countries of the Horn of Africa, to counter terrorism.
