Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Egyptian Foreign Minister to Visit Djibouti, Uganda
Ahram Online
Monday 11 May 2015

Shoukry will discuss regional security issues including Yemen war with Djiboutian officials

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry left Cairo on Monday for a trip that includes stops in Djibouti and Uganda.

A foreign ministry spokesman told Al-Ahram Arabic website that Shoukry’s visit to Djibouti will focus on security and economic developments in the Horn of Africa, as the conflict in Yemen continues.

Djibouti has a population of about 800 thousand people. It gained its independence from France in 1977 and joined the Arab League in the same year.

The topics of discussion will include the situation in the strategic Bab Al-Mandab Strait and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, in addition to methods to “confront current challenges” in this area.

Egypt is part of a Saudi-led Arab coalition that has been fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen since March.

Egypt’s naval forces are responsible for securing Bab Al-Mandab; most ships passing through the strait are either going to or coming from Egypt's Suez Canal, one of the country's main sources of income and foreign currency flow.

The strait is located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, and Djibouti and Eritrea on the Horn of Africa.

Shoukry, who has made visits to several African countries lately, is also expected to visit Uganda to discuss bilateral relations and projects.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/129940.aspx

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