Ethiopia’s Unease: Egypt-Somalia Defense Deal Sparks Regional Tensions

Ethiopia has expressed growing concern over a recent defense deal between Egypt and Somalia, citing worries about regional instability. The agreement, signed earlier this month, has raised alarm bells in Addis Ababa, which is already embroiled in disputes with both Cairo and Mogadishu. The deal, while its details remain undisclosed, involves the potential deployment of Egyptian troops to Somalia following the withdrawal of African Union peacekeepers at the end of the year. Ethiopia fears this move could exacerbate tensions in the Horn of Africa, particularly given existing disputes over water resources and territorial claims. The dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt revolves around the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which Cairo fears will impact its water supply. Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s efforts to gain access to the Red Sea through a deal with Somaliland, a self-declared independent state within Somalia, have angered Mogadishu. Ethiopia’s concerns are rooted in the potential for the Egyptian-Somali defense deal to further complicate these existing disputes and potentially destabilize the region.