Ethiopia blames Egypt for 'dumping weapons' in Horn of Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The geopolitical feud between Egypt and Ethiopia seems to be taking a different trajectory after Addis Ababa blamed Cairo for the first time for 'dumping weapons' in the Horn of Africa, arguing that the approach would trigger insecurity.

Egypt donated military hardware to Somalia in two occasions within the last month, causing anxiety and blame games in the region, but the two countries insisted that this was part of defense cooperation signed by the two nations.

Ethiopia's First Secretary, Kurabachew Tirfesa Dabesa, on behalf of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, accused Egypt of "dumping arms in the Horn of Africa" during Ethiopia’s second right of reply at the United Nations General Debate.

He expressed concern about these weapons potentially falling into the hands of terrorist groups, stating, "Egypt is dumping arms in the region, in the Horn of Africa, that could potentially fall in the hands of the terrorist groups al-Shabaab."

This statement followed remarks by Ethiopia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Yoseph Kassaye, who claimed that Egypt's efforts to secure the Nile's flow by "preoccupying the source countries with conflict and insurgencies will not work."

Egypt vowed to help Somalia protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity after a conflict emerged between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu following the decision by Ethiopia to sign a controversial agreement with Somaliland over access to sea.

Under the arrangement, Ethiopia would get 20 kilometers of the Red Sea for the construction of a military base and port in exchange for recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state. The decision has angered Somalia which accuses Ethiopia of infringement of its sovereignty.

And Somalia moved with speed to sign military pacts with Egypt and Turkey, a move suspected by Ethiopia as a strategy to curtain its quest for access to sea. Egypt is also in trouble with Ethiopia over the ongoing construction and filling of the Grand Renaissance Dam, arguing that the project would impact on lives of those living downstream in Nile River.

GAROWE ONLINE