KEY POINTS
- Egypt sends military aid to Somalia, including anti-aircraft guns and artillery.
- Ethiopia’s Somaliland port deal creates tension with Mogadishu.
- Concerns arise over weapons potentially falling into the hands of militants.
A recent weapons shipment was delivered by an Egyptian warship, with Somali officials claiming an increase in tension in the region.
This is the second shipment of military assistance to Somali; there were machine guns, anti-aircraft weapons, and artillery among the equipment
Due to their mutual suspicion of Ethiopia, Egypt and Somalia have strengthened their ties this year. As a result, Cairo sent multiple planeloads of weapons to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, following the signing of a cooperative security agreement in August.
Strengthening Somali forces
Egypt’s foreign ministry acknowledges the weapons shipment, asserting that it has been sending assistance to help Somalia develop its armed forces ever since.
It is the most recent of repeated military assistance since both signed a security deal in August. Egypt has always had a concern over the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) by Ethiopia on the Nile River, which has a direct implication on the country’s water supply.
Regional concerns grow
A recent agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland to develop the port has caused some tension due to Somalia’s perception of Somaliland as part of its territory.
According to a report by Reuters, Ethiopia, which has deployed troops in Somalia as part of an African Union peacekeeping force fighting the al-Shabaab militants, has so far kept quiet over Egypt’s delivery of arms to its neighbouring Somalia.
The government of Somaliland, on the other hand, has cited threats in a statement arguing that the arms could get into the wrong hands of terrorists such as al-Shabaab that have been terrorizing the region for a long time.
Egypt’s strategic involvement
Egypt’s decision to provide military support is considered an act to increase its role in the Horn of Africa, mainly due to diplomatic tension between Egypt and Ethiopia.
Egypt was also offered in July to contribute troops to a new peacekeeping mission in Somalia. This step shows another effort to bring Cairo into focus as a player who decides about the security of Middle Eastern countries.
