Egypt is not interested in destabilising Horn of Africa, Eritrea says

ASMARA, Eritrea - Egypt is being subjected to 'unwarranted' propaganda over alleged plans to destabilize the Horn of Africa region, Eritrea has claimed, insisting that the northern African country is an agent of peace, prosperity, and stability.

At a meeting in Asmara where an Egyptian delegation led by Foreign Affairs Minister Badr Abdelatty, the team agreed with President Isaias Afwerki to promote peace and stability within the Horn of Africa, which is facing uncertainty.

Yemane Meskel, Eritrea's minister for information, said that Egypt reiterated the message that it is least concerned with the infiltration of governance in the region contrary to claims of interference from 'some quarters'.

"The two sides categorically noted that Egypt does not espouse an agenda of regional destabilization and interference," the minister said about the disagreements between Somalia and Ethiopia and impending intervention by Egypt.

"Misconstruing these facts to peddle unwarranted statements and accusations by some quarters is thus hollow and merely invoked to rationalize their strategic mistakes," the minister further said.

Egypt has dispatched weapons to Somalia following a defense pact but the good gesture is misconstrued into a strategy to attack Ethiopia, which is also fighting for the control of Nile waters, a move opposed by Egypt. Somalia and Ethiopia are fighting over the farmer's plans to access the Red Sea through Somaliland.

Despite the intended plans by Egypt to train Somali forces, Egypt is also tipped to be the lead nation in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Ethiopia has warned against attempts to 'undermine our potential and capability'.

At Asmara, the two sides underlined that the enhancement of the bilateral ties between Eritrea and Egypt constitutes one of the key pillars of regional peace and stability. Eritrea has been training Somalia's army for quite some time now.

"In this respect, both sides agreed to further upgrade the prevailing bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the economic, political, trade, agricultural, energy and health sectors," the teams reaffirmed.

GAROWE ONLINE