MOGADISHU, Somalia — Ethiopia sharply criticized Egypt’s plan to deploy troops to Somalia, saying it won’t change regional security dynamics or Ethiopia’s influence in the Horn.
In an exclusive interview, Ethiopia’s ambassador to Somalia, Suleyman Dedefo, dismissed the deployment as posturing rather than constructive peace-building.
“The Egyptian army has no clear record in international peacekeeping,” Dedefo said. He added it wouldn’t alter Somalia’s reality or weaken Ethiopia’s resolve.
Addis Ababa remains prepared to safeguard its sovereignty, asserting Ethiopia is both strong and unafraid in defending its interests.
The rhetoric underscores a decades-long Nile rivalry. Egypt’s concern over Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam continues to fuel regional tensions.
Analysts warn that disputes over water and shifting alliances in Somalia risk turning the country into a contest of regional power.
Somalia had invited Egyptian peacekeepers to join the African Union’s new AUSSOM mission, replacing ATMIS, to counter persistent al-Shabab threats.
Egypt completed the first training phase for its troops under AUSSOM, supported technically and financially by Japan. The mission aims to stabilize Somalia.
Ethiopia, once a major force in AU missions, sees Cairo’s role as a threat to its regional influence amid security concerns.
The AU and UN have warned against militarizing Somalia’s stabilization effort. They also cautioned that external rivalries could derail fragile peace gains.
As AUSSOM begins operations, Ethiopia’s firm warning signals rising geopolitical complexity—where disputes over water, peace and power intersect in the Horn.