Tensions surge in Horn of Africa as Ethiopia’s ambitions clash with Somalia, Egypt
Tensions in the Horn of Africa bubble following a weapons delivery from Egypt to Somalia on Tuesday and Ethiopia's accusing Somalia of colluding with foreign governments.
Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday accused the Somali government of colluding with external actors to destabilize the Horn of Africa after military aid from Egypt was dispatched to Somalia earlier this week, further fueling tensions in the region.
“The Government of Somalia is colluding with external actors aiming to destabilize the region,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement in an apparent reference to Egypt’s delivery of military equipment to Somalia. Two Egyptian military planes carrying weapons and ammunition landed at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu on Tuesday morning, according to local and international media.
“Ethiopia cannot stand idle while other actors are taking measures to destabilize the region,” the statement read.
The military dispatch comes as Somalia is deepening its security cooperation in Africa and abroad in the face of a controversial Jan. 1 agreement Ethiopia signed with Somalia's breakaway region, Somaliland, which Mogadishu said was a reason for war.
