Egypt, Somalia Activate 2024 Military Pact, Elevate Ties Amid Ethiopia Tensions

CAIRO - Egypt and Somalia agreed to activate the military cooperation protocols that were signed in 2024, in yet another dramatic move which could interest Ethiopia, a country entangled in disagreements with Cairo over the construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam.

The agreement which was signed in the presence of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, also involved the signing of a joint political declaration to elevate the level of bilateral relations between Egypt and Somalia to a strategic partnership, with a focus on the political, military, cultural and economic spheres.

The military protocol, the two countries noted, aims at strengthening the capabilities of Somalia to maintain security and stability, and combat terrorist and extremist organizations. Somalia is battling to defeat Al-Shabaab and ISIS militants.

Already, Egypt had started shipping arms to Somalia, which were received by the military for use in the fight against Al-Shabaab and ISIS. This caused jitters with Ethiopia accusing Egypt of taking advantage to establish a military presence in Somalia.

Egypt was also keen to deploy troops to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Ethiopia also raised objections after Somalia seemingly strategized to block Addis Ababa. However, the country has since agreed to give both countries slots in AUSSOM.

Before leaving for Cairo, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited Addis Ababa, where he met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Somalia's decision to relax its firm stance on Ethiopia was informed by the recent mediation talks in Ankara, which solved outstanding issues, including Ethiopia's obsession with accessing the Red Sea through Somaliland.

While it's not clear which country will be in charge of AUSSOM, Egypt's participation would be unique because it would be the first time it has deployed troops to Somalia. Ethiopia, on the other hand, is the original member of the peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

Besides the military protocol agreement, Somalia and Egypt signed two key agreements in Cairo to enhance diplomatic ties. The pacts include a visa waiver for diplomatic passport holders, allowing stays of up to 90 days, and cooperation on diplomatic training.

Signed by Somali Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and Egyptian FM Badr Abdel-Atty, the agreements were witnessed by Presidents Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and al-Sisi, emphasizing shared goals in trade, culture, and security to foster long-term regional stability.

GAROWE ONLINE