NORTH SINAI, EGYPT - OCTOBER 19: A military vehicle is seen at the Rafah border crossing to Gaza on October 19, 2023 in North Sinai, Egypt. The aid convoy, organized by a group of Egyptian NGOs, set off Saturday 14th October from Cairo for the Gaza-Egypt border crossing at Rafah. On October 7th, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on border communities in southern Israel, spurring the most violent flare-up of the Israel-Palestine conflict in decades. Israel launched a vast bombing campaign in retaliation and has warned of an imminent ground invasion. (Photo by Mahmoud Khaled/Getty Images)
Egypt has delivered a second major cache of military aid to Somalia, including anti-aircraft guns and artillery, in a move that is likely to stoke further friction with Ethiopia, according to Somali officials.
The shipment arrived in Mogadishu on Sunday aboard an Egyptian warship, with security forces guarding the port as the weapons were transported to military bases, according to local officials and port workers.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the delivery on Monday, saying, “A shipment of Egyptian military aid has arrived in the Somali capital Mogadishu to support and build the capabilities of the Somali army.”
In the statement, the ministry said the shipment “reaffirms Egypt’s ongoing central role in supporting Somali efforts to develop the national capabilities necessary to fulfil the aspirations of the Somali people for security, stability, and development.”
This latest delivery follows Egypt’s first round of military aid to Somalia in August, marking a significant shift in their relations, which have grown increasingly cooperative this year.
Both countries share a mutual mistrust of Ethiopia, leading to a joint security pact signed in August that facilitated the transfer of military resources.
The unloading of weapons began on Sunday, with security forces blocking off the quayside and surrounding roads to facilitate the transport of arms to a Defence Ministry building and nearby military bases.
Nasra Bashir Ali, an official in Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre’s office, shared a photo of Defence Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur overseeing the unloading process.
Tensions with Ethiopia have been heightened by its preliminary agreement with the breakaway region of Somaliland to lease land for a port, which Somalia views as an infringement on its sovereignty.
Additionally, Ethiopia maintains a significant military presence in Somalia as part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), further complicating the regional dynamics.
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt has publicly stated Cairo’s unwavering support for Somalia, declaring, “Egypt will not allow anyone to threaten Somalia or affect its security.”
This recent military assistance underscores Egypt’s commitment to strengthening its influence in the region while countering perceived threats from Ethiopia.
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