El-Sisi to Participate in Eritrea and Somalia Summit Aimed at Challenging Ethiopia’s Regional Power

Mogadishu (AX) — The Egyptian leader, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, is gearing up for a visit to Asmara, Eritrea, come Thursday, where he’s scheduled for a three-party pow-wow with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. This top-tier sit-down aims to bolster security partnerships and tackle mutual hurdles in the Horn of Africa and the bustling Red Sea zone.

A big-ticket item on the agenda is the creation of a tri-nation coalition to navigate common challenges, with a spotlight on Ethiopia’s surging clout in the region. They’re all set to hash out strategies for security collaboration, especially considering Eritrea’s key location next to the Red Sea and its edgy history with Ethiopia. Hot topics also include Ethiopia’s steps toward the Red Sea and naval projects in North Western State of Somalia.

These dialogues are a sequel to recent high-profile meetings between Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia. President Mohamud landed in Asmara on Wednesday to gear up for this summit, marking his fourth official jaunt to Eritrea since last year. Notably, Somali troops trained on Eritrean soil have been pivotal in Somalia’s bid to push back Al-Shabaab insurgents, knitting Eritrea and Somalia closer together.

Lately, Egypt has ramped up its military backing for Somalia under its defense agreement, with two hefty arms deliveries to Mogadishu, featuring anti-aircraft weapons and artillery. Egypt’s rising sway in Somalia hasn’t gone unnoticed, irritating Ethiopia, especially after Ethiopia’s dicey deal with North Western State of Somalia perceived as a threat to its interests.

Edited by: Ali Musa

Axadle international–Monitoring