Egypt delivered a second major shipment of arms to Somalia on Monday, September 23rd, sparking increased tensions with neighboring Ethiopia. The weapons delivery, which included artillery and anti-aircraft guns, is part of a growing alliance between Egypt and Somalia, both of whom share deepening mistrust of Ethiopia over various regional disputes. The shipment follows a military aid agreement signed between Egypt and Somalia in August, marking Egypt’s first significant arms contribution to Somalia in over four decades.
The delivery has alarmed Ethiopia, which has been at odds with both nations over issues such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile and a controversial agreement Ethiopia signed with Somaliland. Ethiopian officials fear that the weapons could destabilize the region further, with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie warning that the arms could fall into the wrong hands and exacerbate security challenges. Egypt, however, insists the weapons are intended to bolster Somalia’s army in its fight against terrorism and ensure the country’s sovereignty.
Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia have been mounting since Ethiopia signed a memorandum with Somaliland in January 2024 to lease land for a port, a move that Somalia views as a violation of its territorial integrity. Ethiopia currently has thousands of troops in Somalia as part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and other bilateral peacekeeping arrangements, but Somalia has called for their removal unless the Somaliland deal is scrapped.
Egypt and Ethiopia’s rivalry has long centered around the GERD project, which Cairo views as a threat to its water security. The conflict over water resources has now intertwined with the political and military standoff involving Somalia and Somaliland. Ethiopian officials accuse Egypt of using Somalia as a proxy to undermine Ethiopia’s regional influence.
As regional tensions rise, concerns over an arms race in the Horn of Africa are growing. Both Somalia and Egypt have reaffirmed their cooperation, with Egypt pledging further support for Somalia’s military. Ethiopia, meanwhile, remains wary of external forces escalating the situation as both countries seek to assert their interests in an increasingly volatile region.
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