Somali, Egyptian leaders meet in Cairo amid tensions over Ethiopia’s dam
The Somali presidency, Villa Somalia, praised Egypt's "unwavering support," but analysts suggest that Egypt is seeking diplomatic ballast amid heightened Nile anxieties.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo on Monday, reaffirming long-standing bilateral ties in security, education, health, and diplomacy.
But beneath the warm optics of reopened embassies and mutual praise lies a more strategic calculus.
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President el-Sisi announced the reopening of Egypt's embassy in Mogadishu—a symbolic gesture that may also reflect growing Egyptian intent to assert itself more assertively in the Horn of Africa.
The Somali presidency, Villa Somalia, praised Egypt's "unwavering support," but analysts suggest that Egypt is seeking diplomatic ballast amid heightened Nile anxieties.
Today in Al Alamein, Egypt, I held bilateral talks with H.E. President @AlsisiOfficial. We explored various avenues to strengthen Somalia-Egypt ties across key strategic areas. I am confident that our engagement will usher in a new era of robust cooperation and shared progress. pic.twitter.com/Zj8RgdWIeN
— Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (@HassanSMohamud) July 7, 2025
The backdrop to this engagement is Ethiopia's formal announcement last week that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is now complete.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hailed the $4.2 billion mega-dam as a "shared opportunity," inviting downstream nations to view it as a catalyst for regional integration rather than a threat.
But Egypt, utterly dependent on the Nile for its water supply, remains unconvinced. The conciliatory tone has done little to calm Cairo.
The dam, which will generate over 6,000 megawatts of electricity, has long been a flashpoint between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan.
Now complete, it is expected to further strain diplomatic ties, especially if Ethiopia proceeds with further unilateral water management steps.
In this context, President Hassan's visit to Cairo is more than ceremonial.
Egyptian overtures toward Somalia, including participation in the underfunded AU Stabilisation Mission, are being closely watched in Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia has historically viewed Egypt's involvement in Somali affairs with suspicion, seeing it as part of a broader attempt to contain its regional influence.
Reports suggest Egypt is now exploring diplomatic alignments to counterbalance Ethiopia's GERD leverage.
Somalia's backing, however symbolic, offers Cairo a strategic foothold on the Horn's eastern seaboard.
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