(16-03-23) Mogadishu –According to reputable news sources, two members of Somaliland’s Cabinet of Ministers and the Chief Intelligence Officer traveled to Egypt to implement a plan discussed between the two sides in June 2020. Egypt sought to establish a military base and exert pressure on Ethiopia amid the ongoing Nile River conflict.
On Monday, these officials boarded a flight from Hargeisa to Djibouti, where they stayed overnight at the Djiboutian presidency before continuing their journey.
This move comes amidst a swift transformation in the Horn of Africa, as Somaliland seeks new alliances in light of shifting relations with its neighbors. Cairo is looking to revive its influence in the Horn of Africa to counter Ethiopia’s strategy of courting its historical allies, including Somalia.
However, experts warn that the presence of two hostile forces in Somalia could add tinder to the decades-long conflict in the country. Egypt has long been seeking a presence in Somalia, and now authorities in Mogadishu have given land to Egyptians near a seaside Turkish base, where Egypt will build its first military camp on Somali soil. This move has increased fears of Somalia becoming a battleground in a proxy war.
In July 2020, Somaliland parliament MPs strongly opposed Egypt’s plan to establish a military base in their break-away state, fearing it would put them at odds with Ethiopia. The Ethiopian foreign ministry had previously warned Egypt against forming relationships at the expense of another country and urged President al-Sisi’s regime to refrain from their military base plans in Somaliland.
Following an Egyptian delegation’s visit to Hargeisa, where they requested President Bihi’s permission for a military base, Ethiopian Finance Minister Ahmed Shide also arrived in the city. He cautioned President Bihi against allowing Egypt to build a military facility in Somaliland, presenting him with a letter from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressing Ethiopia’s concerns.
Addis Ababa believes that an Egyptian military presence in one of its neighbors could be a major threat to the GERD, and it has previously discouraged South Sudanese authorities from accepting Egyptian requests for a military base.
Following President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s re-election in May, competition between Egypt and Ethiopia for influence in Somali politics has been visible. However, his decision to visit Cairo and discuss the GERD dispute with el-Sisi irked the Ethiopian leader Abiy Ahmed. This tension adds to the already fragile situation in the Horn of Africa as countries vie for regional influence and power.
The situation in the Horn of Africa remains tense, with each country vying for regional influence and power. As Somaliland seeks new alliances, it remains to be seen how this will impact the ongoing conflicts and tensions in the region.
