President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a stern warning on Sunday, asserting that Egypt will not tolerate any threats to Somalia. This statement comes in response to a contentious maritime agreement between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland.
During a joint press conference with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Cairo, Sisi emphasized Egypt’s rejection of the deal, characterizing it as a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty. In a direct message to Ethiopians, Sisi cautioned against any actions that might challenge Egypt or threaten its allies, especially if requested support by those allies.
The longstanding tensions between Cairo and Addis Ababa have been fueled by disputes over Ethiopia’s mega-dam project on the Blue Nile, which Egypt views as a threat to its delicate water security. Egypt’s foreign minister recently labeled Addis Ababa as “a source of instability in its region.”
The situation escalated when landlocked Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland on January 1, providing it with coveted sea access. Mogadishu condemned the maritime agreement as an act of aggression, stating that mediation is only possible if Ethiopia retracts the illegal memorandum and reaffirms Somalia’s sovereignty.
Somaliland, a region with its own government, security forces, and currency, seeks recognition for its independence claim, which has not been acknowledged by the international community. Mogadishu opposes Somaliland’s pursuit of statehood, but its influence over the northern region is limited.
Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa and one of the largest landlocked nations globally, lost its coastal access in 1993 when Eritrea seceded and declared independence following a three-decade war.
