Cairo: Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Badr Abdelatty, participated in a virtual session conducted by the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) to discuss developments in Somalia and the transition from the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

According to State Information Service Egypt, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s firm stance on supporting Somalia’s security, stability, unity, and territorial integrity. He praised the efforts made by the Somali government to restore security and strengthen governance and state institutions across the country.

Abdelatty also reiterated Egypt’s solidarity with the Somali government and people, backing efforts to enhance the capacity of national Somali institutions and gradually transfer security responsibilities to Somali security forces. He expressed concern over ongoing security challenges posed by terrorist groups, particularly Al-Shabaab, emphasizing the need for a smooth transition from ATMIS to AUSSOM.

Abdelatty stressed the importance of ensuring regular and sustainable funding for AUSSOM to enable it to fulfill its mandate. He warned that inadequate funding could undermine the mission’s effectiveness, affecting the Horn of Africa and the international community, including disrupting global maritime trade routes and increasing terrorist threats.

In his concluding remarks, Abdelatty emphasized Egypt’s commitment to supporting Somalia through capacity-building programs, training personnel, supporting security and civil institutions, and providing humanitarian assistance at both bilateral and multilateral levels.