The minister of interior of Puntland asserts that the Egyptian government is abusing the federal government of Somalia for its own benefit, with the main focus being on the dispute between Cairo and Addis Ababa on the Grand Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile.
The ongoing battle between Ethiopia and Egypt on the Nile River, according to Puntland state’s interior minister Abdi Farah Said Juha, is what spurred the most recent unity between Cairo and Mogadishu.
Juha stated, “Egypt has intervened in Somalia for its benefit. While they are fighting for the Nile, Ethiopia is concentrating on gaining access to water.” However, Egypt seeks to use us as pawns in a larger conflict.”
He claims that Egypt is content to support a self-sufficient and stable Somalia, stressing that its primary goal is to safeguard its stake in the River Nile. He continued saying, “Egypt previously supported warlords in Somalia.”
Egypt has far more goals in Somalia than just providing assistance. They could pose major risks by being here, Juha cautioned.
His remarks coincide with confirmation, a few weeks ago, that Egypt had dispatched naval soldiers and equipment to Somalia with the intention of training local forces and defending the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which Ethiopia is threatening.
Additionally, Egypt has offered to take the helm of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) replacement, the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), beginning the next year. Ethiopia has expressed opposition to the plan.
Egypt and Ethiopia have been at odds over the Blue Nile hydropower plant, often known as GERD. Ethiopia claims that full use of the plant will alter downstream water levels, which will cause problems for Cairo.
However, Ethiopia’s worries over Egypt’s involvement in Somalia are related to geopolitical factors. Ethiopia’s internal problems, such as the conflicts in the Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia regions, have led Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to voice his dissatisfaction with Somalia’s defense agreement with Egypt.
However, Somalia insists that its collaboration with Egypt was timely, accusing Ethiopia of violating its sovereignty and territorial integrity. To the detriment of Somalia, Ethiopia had inked a Memorandum of Understanding giving the breakaway province of Somaliland access to the Red Sea.