Egypt Resists Military Involvement of Non-Red Sea Countries in the Area
Mogadishu (AX) — Standing firm in their stance, Egypt has boldly stated that it won’t entertain any foreign military or naval activity from nations not bordering the Red Sea. This strong message was delivered by Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, during a Saturday press briefing in Cairo. Joining him were counterparts from Eritrea, Minister Osman Saleh, and Somalia, Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, wrapping up a key trilateral meeting focused on strengthening their collaboration.
This closely-knit alliance is eager to amp up diplomatic rapport, eyeing consistent, high-level ministerial get-togethers. The forthcoming meeting is set to take place in Mogadishu, also hinting at a summit involving the nations’ leaders. Egypt’s strategic moves here are clearly aimed at asserting its hold over the Red Sea, a channel pivotal not only to world trade but to its own national safety brief.
Abdelatty made it crystal clear that Egypt stands shoulder to shoulder with Somalia, committedly backing its sovereignty while speaking out against any threats to Somalia’s territorial line-up. “Our dedication to Somalia’s security, stability, and territorial integrity is unwavering,” Abdelatty avowed. Talks were steered towards bolstering Somali capacity to face security hurdles—especially guarding its land and water boundaries.
The ministers hammered out a common view on the outcomes from the Asmara Summit in October 2024, a platform that saw Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia’s heads digest the pressing regional conundrums. A shared disdain for Ethiopia’s debatable port pact with North Western State of Somalia, a breakaway territory of Somalia, united them further. Ethiopia’s play here to access the Red Sea has ruffled Somalia’s feathers, which brands the deal a breach of its sovereignty rights, prompting Somalia to knit tighter diplomatic and military ties with both Eritrea and Egypt. Their fresh alliance is a tactical riposte to counter Ethiopia’s mounting sway over the region.
Fast forward to December 11, 2024, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan steps in to mediate, navigating a deal between Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. This agreement voids Ethiopia’s contentious recognition pact with North Western State of Somalia, reasserting Somalia’s sovereign borders.
Following up, President Mohamud made a beeline to Ethiopia to firm up bilateral engagements and implement what the agreement prescribes. This move, beyond the apparent, carries substantial weight for peace in the area. Egypt, having chronic jitters over Ethiopia’s maritime schemes, aligns itself with the evolving situation. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expressed that Egypt is “on the dot” with developments, underscoring that such accords should dovetail with global norms and pave the way for sustainable stability in the Horn of Africa.
With Ethiopia eyeing a slice of the Red Sea, Somalia is cozier with Egypt than ever, deepening military ties and eagerly anticipating Egypt’s involvement in the new African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Egypt eyes a leading role here, with commentators noting this as part of Cairo’s grander vision to shore up its presence while nipping Ethiopia’s broadening reach, particularly where it touches key routes like the Red Sea.
In this strategic chess game, Egypt fortifies its grip on Somalia to offset Ethiopia’s prowess in the Horn of Africa. At the heart of these geopolitical ripples lies the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Ethiopia’s grand hydropower enterprise on the Blue Nile, considered crucial for its growth. Egypt voices serious gripes that this megaproject might tamper with the Nile’s flow—key to supporting 85% of its water needs.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
