Egypt Sends Military Aid to Somalia Following Rising Tensions with Ethiopia

Egypt has delivered military aid to Somalia for the first time in over four decades, marking a significant shift in regional alliances. The aid, consisting of weapons and ammunition, arrived on Tuesday via two Egyptian military planes at Mogadishu airport, according to diplomatic and Somali government sources.

This move follows a recent security pact between Egypt and Somalia, signed earlier this month, and is seen as a response to Ethiopia's growing ties with Somaliland. Ethiopia's preliminary agreement with Somaliland to lease coastal land in exchange for potential recognition of its independence has angered the Mogadishu government, which views the deal as a violation of its sovereignty.

Egypt, already in a long-standing dispute with Ethiopia over the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile River, condemned the Somaliland deal. The delivery of arms to Somalia and the offer to send Egyptian troops to a new peacekeeping mission next year may escalate tensions further between Cairo and Addis Ababa.

Somalia, which has threatened to expel Ethiopia's troops if the Somaliland deal proceeds, could face significant diplomatic fallout. An anonymous diplomat warned that Somalia is "playing with fire" by accepting Egyptian arms, potentially provoking Ethiopia.

Ethiopia, in response, expressed concern over external interference in the region, accusing Somalia of collaborating with actors that aim to destabilize the area. The Ethiopian government, however, did not directly address Egypt's role in the situation.

Indirect negotiations between Somalia and Ethiopia over the Somaliland issue, facilitated by Turkey, are ongoing, with another round expected next month. Meanwhile, the potential for increased conflict looms, as both Egypt and Ethiopia maneuver for influence in the Horn of Africa.