Eight recruits were killed and others were injured in an “accidental explosion” inside a security training center in the city of Zawiya, located 45 kilometers west of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, according to what a security source told Agence France-Presse on Monday.
A source in the Zawiya Security Directorate said, in a statement to the agency, on Monday morning, that “an accidental explosion last night caused the death of eight recruits and the injury of a number of others, inside one of the security training headquarters.”
The source added that members of the security apparatus “were training with live ammunition... and the explosion of a projectile from one of the weapons used in field training” caused the accident.
The Egyptian House of Representatives continues to meet, today (Monday), for the second day in a row, to discuss the mandate of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in any intervention that Saudi Arabia may request, while the “National Defense Council” in Egypt affirmed “providing all necessary and possible forms of support to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to defend its security and stability, and to preserve its capabilities, the integrity of its lands, and the Islamic holy sites.”
Yesterday (Sunday), Sisi chaired the council meeting, which “reviewed the overall current regional developments and the dangerous developments the region is witnessing, especially in light of the escalation of the unacceptable attacks against the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Egyptian presidential spokesman, Mohamed El-Shenawy, explained that “the National Defense Council decided to stand fully and in full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, based on the historical relations and strong ties that bind the peoples of the two brotherly countries as they are the heart of the Arab nation, and out of belief in the connection between Saudi national security and Egyptian and Arab national security.” The Defense Council also decided to “continue and intensify the political and diplomatic efforts being made, in coordination with the relevant regional and international parties, in a way that contributes to reducing the escalation in the region and settling the crises that the region is witnessing peacefully.”
Egyptian-Somali contacts continue regarding the security situation in the “Horn of Africa” and activating the outcomes of the “Quadrilateral Summit,” which was hosted in the Egyptian city of El Alamein at the beginning of this month.
On Sunday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Ati discussed with his Somali counterpart, Abdel Salam Abdi Ali, “regional developments and issues of common interest,” according to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Egypt aims to “strengthen coordination with the countries of the Horn of Africa to support the stability of these countries,” according to experts, who pointed out that “Cairo’s position supports the unity and sovereignty of Somalia and rejects any infringement on its territorial integrity.”
In a phone call with his Somali counterpart, the Egyptian Foreign Minister discussed “ways to strengthen bilateral relations and continue developing cooperation in various fields.”
According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry’s statement, Abdel-Ati reaffirmed “his country’s firm position in support of the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, and in supporting efforts to build Somali state institutions and enhance its capabilities.”
The call also addressed “developments in the situation in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region,” and discussed “ways to follow up on the implementation of the outcomes of the consultative (Quadruple Summit) hosted by the city of El Alamein in a way that contributes to supporting efforts to achieve security, stability, development, and calm in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.”
This October, the city of El Alamein hosted a four-party consultative summit that brought together Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and discussed “joint coordination in the Horn of Africa region,” according to the Egyptian presidency.
Badr Abdel Ati stressed, on Sunday, “continuing close coordination with Somalia regarding various regional issues of common interest.”
A member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Salah Halima, said, “Coordination and consultation between Egypt and Somalia is not limited only to the situation in the Horn of Africa.”
He added: “Coordination between Cairo and Mogadishu continues, to support the capabilities of Somali institutions in facing various challenges.”
Halima explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that “continuous consultation between Egypt and the Quartet of Africa is required in light of the challenges that this region is witnessing,” and said that “among Egyptian concerns is supporting the governance and security of navigation in the Red Sea from the countries riparian to it, and rejecting the presence of non-riparian countries on its coast.”
Egypt, Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan affirmed that “the principle of freedom of navigation and the governance of the Red Sea is the exclusive responsibility of the riparian countries,” according to the “El Alamein Declaration” issued by the Quartet Summit.
“The challenges facing the sea lanes in the region are pushing to intensify cooperation with the countries of the Horn of Africa,” according to former Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Hossam Issa, who said that “Egypt is keen to secure navigation in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait,” adding to Asharq Al-Awsat that “instability does not only affect the countries of the region, but extends to the countries of the world because of the impact of navigation in the Red Sea on global trade movement.”
Issa believes that “part of the Egyptian contacts with Somalia and the countries of the Horn of Africa aims to consult to protect the integrity of those regional countries, and to confront the movements of any separatist entities in the region.”
The joint statement issued by the El Alamein Quartet summit affirmed “support for the unity and sovereignty of Somalia, and rejection of any interference or measures targeting its territorial integrity and national sovereignty.” It also affirmed the rejection of “any recognition or support for the so-called (Somaliland) as this is considered an infringement on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.”
