MOGADISHU, Somalia – A tripartite meeting took place in Asmara, gathering the Presidents of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud; Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki; and Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. This marks a historic moment, as it is the first such meeting among these three nations, occurring against a backdrop of rising tensions in the Horn of Africa.
In a joint statement from the governments of Somalia and Egypt, the leaders addressed regional issues, focusing on stability and cooperation regarding maritime security in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab.
Reliable sources indicate that this dialogue could lead to a potential military alliance among Somalia, Eritrea, and Egypt aimed at countering Ethiopia, which may further heighten tensions in the region.
This development follows a meeting in New York a month earlier, where the foreign ministers of Somalia, Egypt, and Eritrea—Ahmed Moalim, Badr Abdelatty, and Osman Saleh—met to reaffirm their political commitment to achieving common objectives, ensuring regional stability, and maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.
In late August, Egypt began supplying military equipment to Somalia, with multiple convoys delivering weapons to the Ministry of Defense in Mogadishu and nearby military installations. Additionally, Egypt plans to deploy at least 10,000 troops to Somalia, a decision that has alarmed Ethiopia and intensified concerns about regional rivalries at its borders.
Egypt has positioned itself alongside Somalia in its ongoing dispute with Ethiopia, particularly following a contentious memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Somaliland. This agreement permits Ethiopia access to a 20-kilometer stretch of coastline along the Red Sea in exchange for possible recognition of Somaliland’s independence, which has escalated tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia.
Somalia perceives the MoU, signed in January, as an infringement on its sovereignty and territorial integrity, leading to a diplomatic fallout that includes the expulsion of the Ethiopian ambassador from Mogadishu and threats regarding the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia.
Last week, Somalia’s national security adviser, Hussein Moalim, reaffirmed the country’s position on the involvement of Ethiopian forces in the upcoming African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which follows the expiration of the current AU mission in January 2025.
Moalim emphasized that Somalia would not accept Ethiopian troops as part of the new mission unless they withdraw from the controversial MoU with Somaliland.
During his address to the U.N. General Assembly last month, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske-Selassie denied any connection to Somalia’s allegations and refuted claims regarding the MoU signed with Somaliland.
