Mogadishu, 5 May 2019 – The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, yesterday held talks with senior Egyptian officials who paid him a courtesy call.
The closed-door talks focused on security, the implementation of the Somalia Transition Plan, the ongoing transfer of security responsibility to Somali security forces and the 2020 elections roadmap.
The team led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Hamdi Sanad Loza, comprised the Egyptian Ambassador to Somalia, Amb. Mohamed Ibrahim Nasr, Deputy Assistant Minister of Horn of Africa, Amb. Kareem Sherief, Egyptian Consul to Somalia, Tamer Safwat and the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Egyptian Embassy in Somalia, Mohamed Elgindy.
Ambassador Madeira reaffirmed AMISOM’s support in implementing the Somalia Transition Plan and ensuring successful transfer of security responsibility to the Somali security forces.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of sustained joint military operations by AMISOM and Somali National Army against Al-Shabaab to protect population centres and secure main supply routes.
The visiting delegation also met with Somalia’s President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, and are also expected to hold discussions with members of the cabinet. Egypt assumed the presidency of the African Union early February.
