Egypt Deploying Troops to Somalia Amid Rising Tensions With Ethiopia over Nile dam

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Egypt has begun taking steps to apply military pressure on Ethiopia by deepening its security cooperation with Somalia, marking a significant shift in the Horn of Africa region's geopolitical dynamics.

The move comes as Egypt formally joins the African Union’s Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), with Egyptian troops expected to be deployed in the regions of Hiiraan, Lower Shabelle, and Gedo, according to Somali government sources.

Egypt and Ethiopia have long been locked in a bitter dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Addis Ababa is constructing on the Nile River. Cairo views the project as an existential threat to its water supply, which is heavily dependent on the Nile.

Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia have also escalated in recent months following a controversial agreement between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland. Egypt strongly backed Somalia’s rejection of the deal, paving the way for a new level of military and security cooperation between Cairo and Mogadishu.

“The presence of Egyptian forces in Somalia adds both political and military pressure on Ethiopia,” said regional political analysts, who note that the growing rift over Nile waters is increasingly spilling into broader regional alliances.

While Somali officials insist the Egyptian deployment is solely to assist in counterterrorism operations against al-Shabaab and to support stabilization efforts, the move is widely seen as part of a broader strategy by Egypt to counter Ethiopian influence in the region.

The Egyptian-Somali alignment is expected to deepen in the coming months as both nations formalize defense and intelligence cooperation.

Ethiopia has yet to officially respond to the Egyptian troop deployment, but observers expect tensions in the Horn of Africa to intensify as regional power rivalries deepen.

The GERD dispute, once confined to diplomatic arenas, is now extending into the military and political spheres, with Egypt seeking new partnerships across Ethiopia’s borders — and Somalia emerging as a key player in that strategy.

— GAROWE ONLINE —