MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s defense minister defended the Arab League after Ethiopia’s ambassador to Somalia accused the organization of bias in the ongoing Nile River dispute.
Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi said the Arab League plays a vital role in fostering cooperation among its member states and protecting their sovereignty.
Minister Fiqi said Somalia values the League’s continued support in the country’s state-building efforts.
“Somalia is a key member of the Arab League and appreciates its consistent support,” Fiqi said. “Its mission is to strengthen coordination and unity among member states.”
The statement came after Ambassador Suleiman Dedefo, publicly criticized the Arab League, accusing it of serving as an extension of Egypt’s foreign policy.
Dedefo claimed the League has consistently opposed Ethiopia’s position on the Nile while ignoring humanitarian crises in Arab states.
He also dismissed Egypt’s concerns over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), calling them baseless.
“Ethiopia will continue building new dams”, he said, and Egypt’s efforts to derail Ethiopia’s development were “doomed to fail.”
The Arab League recently condemned Ethiopia for pressing ahead with GERD without a legally binding water-sharing agreement with Egypt and Sudan.
Cairo says the dam threatens its water security while Addis Ababa argues it is exercising its sovereign right to use its natural resources.
Somalia faces a diplomatic dilemma, striving to balance its relations with both Ethiopia and Egypt while maintaining strong ties with each.
