Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed Cairo’s unwavering support for Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity during a phone call with Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Maalim Fiqi on Saturday. The two diplomats discussed the outcomes of the recent Ankara Trilateral Summit, involving Somalia, Türkiye, and Ethiopia, and agreed to enhance coordination ahead of an upcoming trilateral meeting with Eritrea.
However, reports allege that Egypt has leveraged the Ethiopia-Somalia conflict to advance its Nile Dam agenda against Ethiopia, further straining regional dynamics. Critics claim Egypt has fueled divisions among Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, undermining regional stability to gain strategic leverage. Ethiopia has accused Cairo of destabilizing the Horn of Africa, alleging interference aimed at weakening Ethiopia’s position.
Despite these allegations, Abdelatty and Fiqi emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral political, economic, and commercial ties. They also stressed the need to follow up on the October summit in Asmara, where leaders of Egypt, Somalia, and Eritrea discussed regional cooperation.
These developments come as the long-standing Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute continues to complicate relations between Egypt and Ethiopia, highlighting the intricate interplay of national interests and regional conflicts in the Horn of Africa.