El Alamein, Egypt – July 7, 2025 — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived on Sunday in the Egyptian coastal city of El Alamein for a high-level visit aimed at strengthening strategic relations between Somalia and Egypt, at a time of shifting alliances and rising tensions in the Horn of Africa.
The visit, made at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, includes a series of bilateral talks expected to focus on defense cooperation, trade relations, education partnerships, and regional security. According to a statement from Villa Somalia, President Mohamud is accompanied by a high-level government delegation, underscoring the significance of the visit.
The two leaders are expected to discuss deeper cooperation in areas such as counterterrorism, maritime security, and infrastructure development, with an emphasis on shared interests in the Red Sea corridor and broader Horn of Africa geopolitics.
Meanwhile, back home, Somalia is preparing for a major political gathering in the northern town of Lasanod, where traditional elders from the SSC-Khatumo regions and senior federal officials are set to meet in the coming days. Sources confirmed that the conference will address the political future of the SSC-Khatumo territories, with the goal of formally establishing a local administration under the authority of the Federal Government of Somalia.
Delegations from Mogadishu, including the Minister of Commerce, are already en route to Lasanod to participate in the talks. The conference is expected to feature broad discussions on governance, security, and inclusive political representation ahead of planned elections in the region.
In a parallel development, tensions continue to rise in the Sanaag region, where long-standing territorial disputes between Somaliland and Puntland have reignited friction. Government sources indicate that federal forces have been deployed to strategic parts of the area in response to the growing instability.
Mogadishu’s move signals a clear intention to extend federal authority over the SSC-Khatumo territories and bring greater stability to areas that have experienced prolonged unrest and calls for self-determination.
The Lasanod conference is being seen as a pivotal moment in the effort to shape long-term governance structures, rebuild trust, and bring sustainable peace to a region that has long been at the margins of Somalia’s federal framework.
COMMENTS