Egypts

Somalia Welcomes Egypt’s Security Pledge — and Steps Onto a Narrow Diplomatic Tightrope Mogadishu’s new embrace from Cairo comes as the Nile dispute looms and Ethiopia watches closely Somalia’s leaders have a way of smiling through storms. In Mogadishu this week, officials welcomed Egypt’s renewed pledge to back the country’s security and state-building — a gesture with history behind it and geopolitics baked into it. On paper, it is straightforward: Cairo says it will support the new African Union Support and…

Somalia welcomes Egypt’s security backing as new AU stabilization mission looms MOGADISHU — Somalia on Sunday publicly thanked Egypt for a message of solidarity that included promises of military equipment, training and an expected troop contribution to a forthcoming African Union stabilization mission as Mogadishu seeks to reassert control over territory long contested by insurgents. The gesture, framed by Somalia’s Foreign Ministry as evidence of “historic and deep-rooted ties,” arrives as African Union planners prepare…

Analysis: Egypt’s luxury resort at Mount Sinai — a test of faith, heritage and development When the first pilgrims come down from Mount Sinai at dusk, they still carry the small, sandy relics of a place that has been consecrated in the imaginations of billions: a rocky peak where, in the stories of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, a prophet received the law. St. Catherine’s Monastery, a fortified Byzantine complex tucked at the mountain’s base, has for centuries been the human anchor in a landscape that Bedouin communities…

Behind the Lines: Ethiopia and Egypt's Tug of War Over Somali Peacekeeping The geopolitical landscape of the Horn of Africa is shifting, and at its heart lies a quietly simmering tension between two regional powers: Ethiopia and Egypt. The backdrop to this palpable unease is Somalia, a nation struggling to rebuild amidst the shadows of its past conflicts. As Cairo prepares to send troops under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), questions arise about the motives and implications of their…

In the current geopolitical landscape, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemetti, who spearheads Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi are the key figures amidst escalating tensions. Hemetti recently accused Egypt of arming Sudanese Armed Forces, an allegation that Cairo has staunchly repudiated. CAIRO, Egypt (AX) — In a firm rebuttal, Egypt dismissed accusations by Sudan's RSF that Cairo is supplying military aid to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), amidst Sudan's intensifying internal…

Egypt's Al-Sisi Stands Firm on Nile Water Dispute With Ethiopia CAIRO, Egypt - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has pledged to safeguard the waters of the Nile River amidst escalating tensions with Ethiopia over the Grand Renaissance Dam constructed on the Blue Nile. Egypt has long contended that Ethiopia’s damming efforts have curtailed the water flow downstream, severely affecting countless lives across the nation. In response, Egypt proposed a measured approach to filling the dam, an idea swiftly nixed by the…

"FILE - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi makes a gesture during a press briefing in Cairo, Egypt, on October 25, 2023." (AP Photo, Christophe Ena, Pool, File) Somalia has announced that Egypt has proposed sending peacekeeping troops to its territory, offering support as the mandate of the existing African Union peacekeepers is winding down. President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi was present at a summit in Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, where he, alongside Somalia and Eritrea's leaders, vowed to enhance cooperation for…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Accusations have surfaced against Egypt, suggesting opportunistic behavior as the country prepares to lead the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which will replace the current African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Troop-contributing nations, chiefly Uganda, express discontent that Egypt’s engagement comes only now, questioning the motives behind their insistence on joining AUSSOM forces next year. Somalia has outrightly dismissed Ethiopia's involvement,…

KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Henry Oryem Okello, has firmly expressed his disapproval of Egypt's decision to deploy troops for peacekeeping in Somalia. His criticism comes amid discussions focused on the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and the envisioned African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), stirring the pot regarding Egypt's growing military ambitions in the Horn of Africa. The ongoing reevaluation of peacekeeping strategies in Somalia,…

In the whirlwind of regional politics, the involvement of Egypt in Somalia's security landscape has sparked a fair amount of jitters among nations and international partners engaged in the African Union peacekeeping mission there. Egypt, flexing its military muscles, seems keen to play a pivotal role in Somalia as the African Union’s existing mandate wraps up. But oh, the plot thickens like a good mystery novel...Security wonks hint that this new player on the block—Egypt, wielding its influence by backing Somalia—has given…