An Egyptian warship recently delivered a large amount of military equipment to Somalia, including anti-aircraft guns and artillery. This delivery is likely to increase tensions between Somalia, Egypt, and Ethiopia.
In 2023, the relationship between Egypt and Somalia grew stronger because they both have concerns about Ethiopia. In August, the two countries signed a security agreement, leading Egypt to send several shipments of weapons to Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.
Earlier this year, Ethiopia upset Somalia by signing a preliminary agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region. The deal involved leasing land for a port in exchange for Somaliland potentially gaining recognition of its independence from Somalia. This deal angered both Somalia and Egypt, as Egypt has been in conflict with Ethiopia for years over a massive hydroelectric dam Ethiopia is building on the Nile River. Egypt is strongly against the deal with Somaliland.
On Sunday, the Egyptian warship began unloading the weapons in Mogadishu, as confirmed by one diplomat. Security forces quickly blocked off the area around the port and nearby roads as the weapons were transported to a defense ministry building and military bases. This was reported by both port workers and military officials.
Nasra Bashir Ali, an official in the Somali Prime Minister’s office, posted a photo online showing the Somali Defense Minister, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, overseeing the unloading of the ship.
Egyptian authorities did not provide any comments regarding the arms delivery. However, Egyptian media did report that Egypt’s embassy in Mogadishu had warned its citizens against traveling to Somaliland due to safety concerns.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia has about 3,000 soldiers in Somalia as part of an African Union peacekeeping mission, which is working to combat Islamist insurgents. In addition, Ethiopia has 5,000 to 7,000 troops in other parts of Somalia under a separate agreement.
Somalia views Ethiopia’s deal with Somaliland as a violation of its sovereignty and has demanded that all Ethiopian troops leave by the end of the year unless the agreement is canceled.
In July, Egypt offered to send its own troops to support a new peacekeeping mission in Somalia, though the Egyptian government has not made any public statements about this offer.
Ethiopia has not responded to these developments but has previously stated that it will not sit by while other countries take actions that could disrupt the region.
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