Al-Sisi (right) receiving Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Reuters)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi confirmed on Sunday his country's rejection of the agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland, and affirmed that no threat to the state of Somalia and its security would be allowed.

Al-Sisi added - in a press conference with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Cairo - that trying to "jump onto a piece of land to try to control it...no one will agree to that."

Somalia's ambassador to Egypt, Elias Sheikh Omar Abu Bakr, said yesterday, Saturday - in a statement - that the visit of his country's president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, to Cairo came "for coordination at a time when our sovereignty is facing challenges."

The Somali ambassador stressed that Somaliland is an integral part of Somali territory.

The ambassador pointed out his country's keenness to coordinate positions with Egypt, which plays a pivotal role in the region, and at the same time appreciated the great Egyptian support for Somalia in its current crisis.

He said, "This is not surprising for Egypt, which has always been the first to take appropriate positions in support of its brothers."

He continued, "Egypt was one of the first countries to explicitly announce its position immediately after the outbreak of the crisis related to the illegal agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland, stressing the need to fully respect the unity and sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia over its entire territory, and its opposition to any measures that would violate Somali sovereignty."

At the beginning of this January, Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, paving the way for the construction of an Ethiopian military base and leasing the port of Berbera on the Red Sea for 50 years, which caused tension with Somalia.

Somaliland - which has not enjoyed official recognition since it declared its separation from Somalia in 1991 - acts as an independent administrative, political and security entity, with the central government unable to extend its control over the region, or enable its leadership to seize independence.

Ethiopia is considered a landlocked country, as it has no coastline or beaches since Eritrea, which overlooks the Red Sea, officially separated from it in 1993.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies