Somalia Diverts Egyptian Defense Aid to Internal Conflict
Dr. Fiqi said the consignment of small arms, provided by Egypt, was intended to strengthen Somalia’s national security and confront “the real enemies of the country.” He stressed the aid was never designed for deployment against Somali civilians...
Somalia: Egyptian Defense Aid Allegedly Diverted to Fuel Internal Strife
MOGADISHU, Somalia — South West State Assembly Speaker Dr. Ali Said Fiqi on Sunday delivered a sharp rebuke over what he called the misuse of Egyptian military assistance, alleging that arms meant to protect the country are instead being turned against its own people.
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Dr. Fiqi said the consignment of small arms, provided by Egypt, was intended to strengthen Somalia’s national security and confront “the real enemies of the country.” He stressed the aid was never designed for deployment against Somali civilians or to influence internal political contests.
He alleged, however, that the weapons have been rerouted to militias operating in Burhakaba district and are now being used in a local conflict targeting residents of South West State — a move he said breaches the original understanding. According to Dr. Fiqi, the militia’s mission includes undermining the regional administration and challenging the authority of President Abdiaziz Laftagareen.
“When weapons meant for national defense are used incorrectly, it only fuels tensions, divides the community, and endangers the lives of innocent people,” Dr. Fiqi said.
He urged federal institutions and all stakeholders to immediately stop the diversion of the arms and ensure the equipment is redirected to its proper role: the collective defense of Somalia.
The federal government is under fire for allegedly supplying local militias in South West State to force President Laftagareen from office.
The claims surface amid a steep rise in friction between Mogadishu and the regional leadership. Laftagareen recently cut all formal ties with the federal government, citing destabilization efforts as the reason for the rupture.
The break with Mogadishu signals a major test for Somalia’s federal arrangement. South West State is a key partner in countering regional insurgents, and critics warn that deploying military assets to shape local power transitions risks igniting wider unrest and diverting attention from national security imperatives.
Egypt and Somalia have been tightening their strategic cooperation, underscored by 2024 security agreements, stepped-up military ties, and the planned 2026 deployment of Egyptian forces to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The partnership centers on security, counterterrorism, and regional stability in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, amid heightened tensions linked to Ethiopia’s actions and concerns over Somalia’s territorial integrity.
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