President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi used his address to the 34th Arab League Summit in Baghdad to restate Cairo’s “un-breakable commitment” to Somalia’s sovereignty and security.
“We categorically reject any attempt to undermine Somali unity,” the Egyptian leader declared, urging all regional and international partners to “stand firmly behind the Federal Government of Somalia so the country can safeguard its hard-won stability.”
Key points from President El-Sisi’s Speech at 34th Arab League Summit
- Full backing for Mogadishu: Egypt will continue political, economic and capacity-building assistance to Somalia, while opposing external interference.
- Call for collective action: El-Sisi appealed to Arab and international donors to scale up support that helps Somali authorities confront terrorism, drought and humanitarian shortfalls.
- Regional flashpoints under review: The summit’s closed session analyzed the Gaza conflict, crises in Sudan, Syria and Libya, and the Horn of Africa’s security picture—highlighting the need for stronger joint Arab diplomacy.
Did any other country mention Somalia at the 34th Arab League Summit?
Inside the plenary, several delegations—including Iraq as host and Djibouti representing IGAD interests—echoed Egypt’s plea.
Stressing that instability in Somalia threatens broader Red Sea shipping lanes and the fight against Al-Shabaab.
However, no formal aid pledges were announced on day one.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh at the 34th Arab League Summit: rebuilding a stable state, backing Palestine, and calling for Arab solidarity
At the 34th Arab League Summit in Baghdad, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud outlined Mogadishu’s rapid progress and its regional priorities:
1. Re-engineering Somalia’s state institutions
The president told fellow heads of state that Somalia is “methodically rebuilding core institutions, professionalising security forces, and reviving the justice system.”
He stressed that these reforms—paired with intensified counter-terrorism operations—have already reclaimed territory from Al-Shabaab, opened trade corridors and strengthened national unity.
2. Delivering security & economic growth in tandem
By integrating liberated areas into the formal economy, Somalia has expanded domestic revenue and attracted fresh Gulf and Turkish investment in ports, fisheries and renewable energy.
Hassan Sheikh urged Arab partners to channel concessional finance and technology transfer toward Somalia’s blue-economy projects and climate-smart agriculture.
3. Unwavering support for Palestine
Calling Gaza war “a litmus test of our collective Arab conscience,” the president reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He appealed for united diplomatic pressure and sustained humanitarian assistance to ease the crisis in Gaza.
4. Welcoming Syria’s reintegration
Hassan Sheikh applauded the recent lifting of certain sanctions on Syria, framing it as “a constructive step toward national recovery and reintegration into the Arab family.”
5. Backing Sudan’s sovereignty and peace
The Somali leader closed by endorsing Sudan’s territorial integrity and urging all factions to embrace dialogue, warning that continued fragmentation would reverberate across the Horn of Africa.
