Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.

The two leaders held a high-level meeting in Cairo ahead of the Egypt–Türkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, focusing on bilateral relations and key regional issues, including Somalia, Sudan, Gaza and the wider Middle East, according to the Egyptian presidency.

"We do not accept Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland, which targets the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Somali state,” Erdogan said, according to remarks released after the meeting.

Egyptian presidential spokesman Mohamed El-Shennawy said the talks included a private session between the two presidents, during which they discussed strengthening cooperation and addressing shared security and political concerns. Both leaders agreed to intensify consultations on Somalia and the Horn of Africa, describing regional stability as a collective responsibility.

Turkey and Egypt were among the first countries to publicly reject Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, announced in late December, a move that has drawn widespread opposition across Africa and the Arab world.

Beyond Somalia, the meeting addressed the conflicts in Sudan and Gaza, with both sides emphasizing the need for stability, regional cooperation and non-interference in the internal affairs of states.

The talks underscored the warming of relations between Ankara and Cairo after years of strained ties. Following the meeting, the two countries signed several agreements and memorandums of understanding covering defense, trade, investment, health and agriculture, signaling an expansion of cooperation across multiple sectors.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized by the international community. Somalia’s federal government considers the territory an integral part of the country and has mobilized diplomatic support to counter recognition efforts.