By Khaled Mahmoued – Despite the absence of any official statement from Egyptian or Somali authorities regarding the delivery of military aid from Egypt to Somalia, Reuters reported, citing three Somali diplomatic and government sources, that Egypt has provided military assistance to Somalia.
This marks the first such aid in more than four decades, amid deepening relations between the two countries and escalating tensions with Ethiopia.
The sources indicated that two Egyptian military planes landed at Mogadishu airport, loaded with weapons and ammunition, without any official confirmation from the Egyptian or Somali governments regarding the aid.
This move comes as part of the military agreement signed between the two nations earlier this month. Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia have heightened recently, particularly after Addis Ababa signed a preliminary agreement with the breakaway Somaliland region to lease a coastal port, an action Mogadishu viewed as a violation of its sovereignty.
Somalia had previously threatened to expel around 10,000 Ethiopian soldiers stationed on its soil as part of peacekeeping missions if the agreement with Somaliland was not canceled.
Diplomatic circles fear that Egyptian military support for Somalia could exacerbate tensions with Ethiopia, especially with the potential deployment of Egyptian forces to border areas. Although the likelihood of a direct war between Egypt and Ethiopia is considered low, some analysts warn that the conflict could evolve into a proxy war.
Meanwhile, Turkey continues its mediation efforts between Somalia and Ethiopia, with a third round of talks regarding Somaliland expected to take place next month.
Egypt’s strategic move to provide military aid to Somalia is viewed as a significant development, particularly in the context of its longstanding dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
The ongoing tensions between the two nations have been marked by a series of diplomatic and military maneuvers, with both countries seeking to strengthen their alliances and assert their influence in the region.
As the situation unfolds, regional and international actors are closely monitoring the developments, aware that the balance of power in the Horn of Africa could shift dramatically if these tensions are not carefully managed.
The coming weeks are likely to be critical in determining whether the region will see a further escalation or a move towards de-escalation and diplomatic resolution.
