Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has said that his country and Djibouti are on the same page regarding the situation in Yemen, as both are geographically close and share interests in maintaining security in the Red Sea.
Shoukry sat with Djibouti’s President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh during his visit to the country on Monday to discuss how to protect the strategic Bab El-Mandab Strait and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
The strait is located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, and Djibouti and Eritrea on the Horn of Africa.
Shoukry said in statements to reporters that more cooperation is expected between Egypt and Djibouti within the context of the ongoing conflict in Yemen.
Egypt is part of a Saudi-led Arab coalition that has been fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen since March.
Egyptian naval forces are responsible for securing the Bab Al-Mandab Strait. 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.
Shoukry, who has made visits to several African countries lately, is also expected to visit Uganda to discuss bilateral relations and projects.
On Monday, he also said that he would be visiting South Africa and Angola in an ongoing effort to enhance African relations.