Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia to forge new security alliance amid regional tensions

Egypt, Eritrea, and Somalia will sign a tripartite security agreement aimed at enhancing regional cooperation and stability.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi arrived in Asmara, Eritrea, on Thursday morning for an official visit, where he was welcomed by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.

The summit, hosted by President Isaias, signals a new alliance between the three nations.

The Egyptian delegation includes key officials such as Abbas Kamel, chief of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service, and Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.

The high-level meeting comes amid rising tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia over Ethiopia’s controversial maritime agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia. The agreement has raised alarms among international stakeholders, including the African Union (AU), which has a mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

In light of the tensions, Somalia is preparing to establish the composition of its upcoming AU Support and Stabilisation Mission following the expiration of the current mission.

Somalia’s national security advisor Hussein Moalim, emphasised that Ethiopian troops would not be included in the new mission unless Ethiopia withdraws from its agreement with Somaliland.

“Somalia would not consider Ethiopian troops to be part of the new mission unless it withdraws from the illegal memorandum of understanding signed with [Somalia’s breakaway region of] Somaliland earlier this year,” Hussein said on Thursday in an interview with VOA Somali.

The memorandum, signed in January, is viewed by Somalia as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It grants Ethiopia access to a 20-kilometre stretch of the Red Sea coastline in exchange for potential recognition of Somaliland’s independence. This agreement has strained diplomatic relations between Somalia and Ethiopia, leading to the expulsion of the Ethiopian ambassador from Mogadishu and threats to remove thousands of Ethiopian troops stationed in south and central Somalia.

Both Egypt and Eritrea have expressed their support for Somalia’s sovereignty and opposition to the agreement. President Abdel Fattah has previously reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to Somalia’s unity and stability, highlighting the long-standing instability the country has faced.

“We don’t support Somalia because of Ethiopia. We support them because they have been in a state of instability for 30 years,” he said during a recent event.

The comments come amid increased attention on Egypt’s role in stabilising Somalia. Two weeks prior, a cargo ship carrying significant military aid from the Egyptian Armed Forces arrived in Somalia.

Somalia’s Defence Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur expressed gratitude for Egypt’s support, stating, “We know our interests and we will choose between our allies and our enemies. Thank you, Egypt,” underscoring the strengthening of defence ties between the two nations.

This military support represents one of the largest arms shipments Somalia has received from its international allies and marks a significant step in solidifying Somalia’s growing influence on the global stage. Notably, this was the second military aid shipment sent from Egypt.

In August, Egypt and Somalia signed a defence pact and military cooperation protocol during a visit by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to Cairo, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing regional security.

Following the bilateral talks between Abdel Fattah and Isaias, the leaders convened with President Hassan for a summit focused on bolstering cooperation among the three countries and addressing pressing regional security challenges.