Egyptian Warship Intensifies Somalia-Arms Delivery Amidst Regional Tensions

An Egyptian warship has delivered its second major cache of weapons to Somalia, including anti-aircraft guns, amid heightened tensions with Ethiopia. The arms shipments follow a security pact between Egypt and Somalia, further straining relations with Ethiopia, which is already at odds with Egypt over a massive hydro dam project.

An Egyptian warship has delivered a second significant cache of weapons to Somalia, including anti-aircraft guns and artillery, according to port and military officials. This development is expected to heighten tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia.

This year has seen Egypt and Somalia grow closer due to their mutual distrust of Ethiopia. In August, the countries signed a joint security pact, leading Cairo to send several planeloads of arms to Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. Ethiopia previously irked Mogadishu by agreeing to a preliminary deal in January with Somaliland, a breakaway region, to lease land for a port in exchange for possible recognition of its independence.

On Sunday, the Egyptian warship began unloading the weapons, according to a diplomat. Security forces secured the area as convoys transported the arms to a defense ministry building and nearby military bases, according to port workers and military officials. Nasra Bashir Ali, an aide to the Somali Prime Minister, shared a photo on X of Defence Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur overseeing the unloading.

Egyptian authorities either declined to comment or did not immediately respond to requests. Meanwhile, Ethiopia maintains a military presence in Somalia through an African Union peacekeeping mission (ATMIS), with an estimated 5,000-7,000 troops elsewhere under a bilateral agreement.

Somalia has described the Somaliland deal as an attack on its sovereignty and demands Ethiopia withdraw its troops by year's end unless the deal is nullified. In July, the African Union revealed Egypt's offer to contribute troops to a new peacekeeping mission in Somalia, although Cairo has not publicly commented. Ethiopia's government also did not respond to Reuters' request for comment but has previously stated it cannot remain passive as other entities destabilize the region.

(With inputs from agencies.)