Egypt has delivered a significant consignment of military equipment to Somalia, according to security officials in Mogadishu.
Somali Defence Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur expressed gratitude towards Egypt in a social media post, though he did not directly mention the weapons.
This marks the second shipment from Egypt within a month, as Somalia’s relationship with its former ally Ethiopia continues to sour. Egypt, a long-time rival of Ethiopia, is deepening ties with Somalia, raising concerns of escalating tensions in the Horn of Africa.
The military cargo, transported on an Egyptian warship that arrived on Sunday, included anti-aircraft guns and artillery. A BBC journalist in Mogadishu confirmed seeing the weapons being moved through the city streets.
In his post on X, Mr. Nur shared a photo of himself observing a docked naval vessel, writing, “Somalia has passed the stage where they were dictated to and awaited the affirmation of others on who it will engage with. We know our own interests, and we will choose between our allies and our enemies. Thank you, Egypt.”
The growing cooperation between Egypt and Somalia comes amid strained relations between Somalia and Ethiopia. Somalia is angered by Ethiopia’s preliminary agreement with Somaliland—a self-declared republic Somalia considers part of its territory—to lease a section of its coastline.
Adding to the tension, Ethiopia has long been involved in supporting Somalia’s fight against the al-Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabab. Yet, Ethiopia expressed concerns about the Egyptian arms delivery, warning that the weapons could fall into the hands of militants, potentially worsening Somalia’s security situation. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Taye Atske-Selassie echoed these fears.
Somaliland also voiced alarm, issuing a statement warning of the risks of an arms race in the region, where various factions might seek to build their own arsenals to protect their interests.
This is not the first time Egypt has delivered arms to Somalia. In August, two Egyptian military planes brought weapons to Mogadishu after a deal was signed during Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s visit to Cairo.
Ethiopia has criticized the influx of Egyptian weapons, stating it cannot “stand idle” as such actions threaten to destabilize the region. Somalia’s defence minister, in response, dismissed Ethiopia’s concerns, urging them to stop “wailing” as the consequences of their actions would soon be evident.
Currently, Ethiopia has around 3,000 troops in Somalia as part of an African Union mission. Reports suggest that by the end of the year, up to 5,000 Egyptian soldiers could be deployed as part of a revamped AU force, with an additional 5,000 Egyptian troops possibly deployed separately. Meanwhile, Ethiopia maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 soldiers in Somalia under bilateral agreements.
