Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie, has expressed serious concern over recent arms transfers to Somalia, warning that they may “further exacerbate the fragile security” in the region. During a meeting with UN Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo in New York, Minister Taye cautioned that the “supply of ammunition by external forces would further destabilize the region and could end up in the hands of terrorists.”
According to Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the discussion took place on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly. These remarks come in response to reports of a large convoy of military supplies from Egypt arriving in Mogadishu. It is believed to be the largest shipment since the UN relaxed its arms embargo on Somalia in December 2023.
The shipment, reportedly part of a bilateral defense agreement signed between Egypt and Somalia in August 2024, is said to include heavy artillery, anti-tank weapons, and armored vehicles.
Somaliland has also raised serious concerns regarding this shipment.
“We are deeply alarmed by the transfer of these weapons, especially since the Mogadishu administration lacks the capacity to effectively manage or safeguard such a large military cache,” the Somaliland Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
The military aid arrives amid a complex web of regional tensions.
Last month, reports surfaced that Egypt was planning to send as many as 10,000 soldiers to Somalia, along with military officers and equipment to Mogadishu.
The growing military cooperation between Egypt and Somalia is taking place against a backdrop of strained relations between Somalia and Ethiopia, particularly after Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Somaliland concerning port access.
Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister also touched on the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), stressing the need for a comprehensive review of the mission’s mandate, size, financing, and coordination, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Additionally, the Ethiopian Minister addressed the situation in Sudan, reiterating Ethiopia’s support for a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict there. “Ethiopia has been advocating for a political resolution to the crisis in Sudan,” he noted.