MOGADISHU, Somalia— An Egyptian naval cargo vessel carrying the third shipment of weapons has docked in Mogadishu on Sunday, amid rising tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa.
The weapons unloaded in Mogadishu are believed to be part of Egypt’s military support to enhance the capabilities of Somalia’s army in fighting against terror groups like Al Shabab and the Islamic State, as well as maintaining national stability.
Speaking to Mareeg Online, reliable sources confirmed that the new arms include advanced weaponry and ammunition after videos of the first shipment from Egypt went viral, with some claiming that the weapons were old and used in World War II.
In response to the social media allegations, a military delegation sent by Somalia expressed their dissatisfaction with the shipment’s quality and urged Egypt to send modernized weapons, which Egypt did, and those are now being unloaded in the capital, Mogadishu.
In late August, An Egyptian cargo ship carrying delivered the largest weapons Somalia has ever received in its history, has docked Mogadishu under a deal signed in Cairo by both President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Abdal Fatah Al Sisi.
Earlier this year, tensions emerged as Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, seeking sea access for his landlocked nation, signed a controversial deal to gain access to a 20 km stretch of Red Sea coastline with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, in exchange for recognizing its claim to independence.
Ethiopia’s bid angered Somalia, a neighboring country which views Somaliland as part of its territory and termed the MoU a violation of its sovereignty. Somalia also invited Egypt to join the new AU mission to replace Ethiopia and called for the withdrawal of all Ethiopian troops serving as peacekeeping forces in its country.
Given the ongoing disputes with Ethiopia over Nile water, Egypt accepted the invitation immediately and began planning its military buildup in Somalia. This also escalated the tensions between Somalia and Egypt on one side and Ethiopia.
Egypt has also aligned itself with Somalia in its diplomatic dispute with Ethiopia over the controversial MoU with Somaliland. Egypt is planning to deploy at least 10,000 troops to Somalia, raising concerns in Ethiopia, which views Egypt as a longstanding regional rival.
Despite efforts by the African Union and Turkey to de-escalate tensions, Somalia worsened the situation by excluding Ethiopia from the new AU peacekeeping mission, even as Ethiopia expressed its willingness to keep its troops in Somalia as part of the upcoming mission.
