Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Cairo on Thursday for an official visit to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The visit, made at the invitation of President al-Sisi, highlights the deepening ties between Somalia and Egypt while drawing regional attention due to recent geopolitical developments.

The Somali national news agency SONNA reported that discussions during the visit will focus on bolstering “joint efforts to combat terrorism and accelerating cooperation in the fields of security and peace in the region.” Additionally, the leaders are expected to explore “enhancing opportunities for economic and developmental cooperation,” signaling a growing partnership between the two nations.

This visit comes on the heels of President Mohamud’s recent trip to Ethiopia, which followed the Ankara Deal—an agreement aimed at improving Ethiopia-Somalia relations. The timing of Mohamud’s visit to Egypt has raised eyebrows, given the heightened tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia over Egypt’s reported security presence in Somalia. Reports of Egyptian involvement in the region have strained Ethiopia-Somalia relations, with Ethiopia viewing Egypt’s expanding footprint as a potential threat to its influence, especially in the Horn of Africa.

Adding to the complexity, Mohamud’s choice to visit Cairo so soon after his trip to Addis Ababa has surprised regional observers. It underscores Somalia’s delicate balancing act in navigating relationships with neighboring Ethiopia and Egypt—two nations with competing interests, particularly regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute and broader regional security dynamics.

This visit also builds on the momentum of Mohamud’s August 2024 trip to Cairo, during which Somalia and Egypt signed a defense pact to strengthen bilateral security cooperation. That agreement, coupled with the growing trade between the two nations—reaching $59 million in the first half of 2024, an 88% increase compared to the same period in 2023—solidifies Egypt’s role as a key ally for Somalia. However, it has fueled concerns in Ethiopia about Egypt’s potential influence in the Horn of Africa.

President Mohamud’s Cairo trip signals Somalia’s strategic engagement with regional powers while navigating complex geopolitical tensions. As Mohamud and al-Sisi meet, the outcomes of their discussions will be closely watched, with implications not just for bilateral relations but also for the broader Horn of Africa region. This visit highlights Somalia’s ambition to strengthen ties with Egypt while maintaining a delicate balance in its relations with Ethiopia.