Meeting with Dr. Mahmoud Daher Aweys, Head of the Somali National Consultation Party

On December 9, 2021, the   Egyptian   Council   for   Foreign   Affairs   hosted Dr. Mahmoud Daher Aweys, of Somali-American nationality,   head of the Somali National Consultation Party, and whom ECFA had previously received on November 18, 2020, and June 3, 2021, to talk about Egyptian-Somali relations and the Ethiopian position on developments in Somalia, and his desire to run for the upcoming presidential elections in his country.

The guest mentioned that the Ethiopian security and intelligence services are still capable of the joints of the Somali state and support Abdullah Farmajo. He pointed out that Ethiopia has about 15,000 military personnel in Somali territories outside the framework of the UN AMISOM forces. In this context, the guest affirmed his desire to run for the upcoming presidential elections in his country, in order to correct the course and advance his country torn by conflicts and disputes and the arbitrary and unjustified Ethiopian presence. He indicated that the term of the current president, Farmajo, was supposed to end last February, but he was delaying the holding of the presidential elections by all possible means, which would have led to a war in the Somali capital Mogadishu, but his provocative policies are still continuing and existing, supported by the Ethiopian decision-maker.

Dr. Aweys also noted that the Somaliland experience may appear to some to be economically and politically successful, but in reality it is no more than a pure attempt to deepen the separatist tendency in Somalia, which is what Ethiopia is striving for strongly. On the other hand, the guest pointed out that the Turkish presence in Somalia is strong, which is sufficiently reflected in the fact that the largest Turkish embassy in the world is located in the capital, Mogadishu, in addition to the healthcare and cultural projects that it is conducting there. However, he indicated that it does not support the idea of ​​separatist tendencies in Somalia, and instead supports the unity and territorial integrity of Somalia, which serves its interests and ambitions in Somalia, and in Africa in general. He also indicated that the goal of the United States is precisely that.

The Arab face of Somalia is facing serious challenges due to the Ethiopian anti-Arab policies, as well as because of the Turkish policies, noting that there is significant Turkish and Qatari influence in Somalia in exchange for Emirati influence in “Somaliland” and “Puntland”. Furthermore, while emphasizing his pan-Arab orientation, the guest said that the majority of the Somali people view that Egypt has a considerable stature, and that it is welcomed in Somalia, and consider that its moves are a solution to besieging the Ethiopian influence in Somalia. He also stressed the importance of the Arab part, led by Egypt, to support pan-Arabism by supporting his candidature to the presidency.