Ethiopia has expressed deep concerns following Egypt’s delivery of heavy weaponry to Somalia, warning that the arms could fall into the hands of terrorist groups like Al-Shabaab. Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atskeselassie voiced alarm over the recent shipment, stating that the weapons could fuel instability if misused by extremist factions.
This comes just days after an Egyptian warship unloaded a large cache of arms in Mogadishu, which included anti-aircraft guns and artillery, according to Reuters. Egyptian military planes had also delivered weapons to Somalia earlier in August, further escalating tensions between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Somalia.
Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Maalim Fiqi responded by accusing Ethiopia of hypocrisy, claiming Addis Ababa has been illegally smuggling weapons into Somalia, which have ended up with civilians and extremist groups.
Somaliland, an autonomous region of Somalia, has also raised the alarm, stating that Somalia lacks the capacity to effectively manage such a large military shipment. The region warned that the unregulated flow of arms could trigger an arms race, with various factions seeking to stockpile weapons to protect their interests.
There is growing concern across the region that the influx of weapons could end up in the hands of extremist groups like Al-Shabaab or active clan militias, thereby exacerbating violence and instability. Somaliland has urged the international community to take immediate action to prevent the situation from escalating into further conflict.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has defended the arms delivery, stating that it is part of Egypt’s commitment to supporting Somalia’s fight against terrorism and promoting security in the region. However, the growing military presence and arms race in the region threaten to destabilize an already fragile security situation.
