Port and military officials reported on Monday that an Egyptian warship has delivered a substantial cache of weapons, including artillery and anti-aircraft guns, to Somalia. This marks the second significant shipment in recent months and is likely to escalate tensions between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Somalia.
Strengthening Egypt-Somalia Ties Amid Regional Tensions
This latest arms shipment comes as Egypt and Somalia have been deepening their military and diplomatic ties this year, driven by shared concerns over Ethiopia’s regional actions. In August, the two nations signed a cooperative security agreement, leading to increased Egyptian military support for Somalia, including multiple planeloads of arms sent to Mogadishu.
The growing military cooperation between Egypt and Somalia has drawn the ire of Ethiopia, which has been embroiled in a long-standing dispute with Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile River. Cairo views the dam as a significant threat to its water security, while Ethiopia considers it crucial for its economic development.
Land Disputes Fuel Diplomatic Strains
The tensions are further complicated by a tentative agreement signed in January between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland. Under this deal, Ethiopia agreed to lease land for a port in exchange for the possible recognition of Somaliland’s independence, a move that infuriated Mogadishu. Somalia has condemned the agreement as an infringement on its sovereignty, while Egypt has expressed strong opposition, viewing the pact as part of Ethiopia’s broader strategy to expand its regional influence.
Security Measures During Weapon Transfer
According to a diplomat, the Egyptian warship began unloading its cargo on Sunday. Port workers and military officials reported that security forces sealed off the quayside and surrounding roads, escorting convoys of weapons to defense ministry facilities and nearby military bases. Images shared on social media showed Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur overseeing the unloading of the ship, underscoring the high level of government involvement in this arms transfer.
Egyptian officials declined to comment on the operation, while the Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu issued a security alert for Egyptian citizens, citing the volatile situation in the region.
Ethiopia’s Military Presence and Somalia’s Response
Ethiopia, which maintains between 3,000 and 7,000 troops in Somalia as part of the African Union Peacekeeping Mission (ATMIS), is under growing pressure from Somalia to withdraw its forces by the end of the year. Mogadishu has denounced the Somaliland agreement as an attack on its territorial integrity and has demanded a complete Ethiopian troop withdrawal.
The African Union reported in July that Egypt had proposed contributing troops to a new peacekeeping mission in Somalia, although Cairo has not made any official public statements about this offer. Ethiopia, meanwhile, has repeatedly expressed concern over what it perceives as external attempts to destabilize the region but did not immediately respond to requests for comment from international media.
Implications for Regional Stability
The ongoing arms shipments from Egypt to Somalia, combined with Ethiopia’s military presence, reflect a complex web of alliances and rivalries that threaten to further destabilize the Horn of Africa. As these nations continue to assert their interests, the potential for conflict looms, with far-reaching consequences for regional security and diplomatic relations.