Egypt ships second arms cargo to Somalia as tensions persist with Ethiopia

An Egyptian warship has delivered a significant arms shipment to Somalia, the second such delivery from the Arab World's most populous country in a month amid rising tensions between the two nations and Ethiopia.

Somali Defence Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur thanked Egypt in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, posting a picture of his back to the camera as he looked at a docked naval vessel, carrying the cargo, apparently, addressing Somalia in a challenging manner.

"Somalia has passed the stage where they were dictated to and awaited the affirmation of others on who it will engage with," Nur posted on X.

"We know our own interests, and we will choose between our allies and our enemies...Thank you, Egypt," he added.

Nevertheless, Egypt did not seem to adopt the same provocative approach towards its over-a-decade-long rival, Ethiopia.

In an official statement released on Monday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, described the move as part of "the continuation of the support to the brotherly nation, Somalia, to help build its military capacity."

No details about the shipment components have officially been declared yet, while Ethiopia's official reaction, has, till the publication time been, unexpectedly, subtle.

During a meeting with the UN Undersecretary-General Rosemary, DiCarlo Rosemary Decarlo, in New York, also on Monday, Ethiopian Foreign Minister, Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie, warned that the supply of ammunition by what he described as "external forces" would further "exacerbate the fragile security" of the region.

But the top Ethiopian diplomat did not directly refer to any countries in his remarks.

In August this year, Egypt and Somalia signed a defence agreement, amid an ongoing dispute both countries have with Ethiopia. 

Ethiopia and Egypt have been at odds over the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. Egypt is concerned that Ethiopia's dam would deprive it of the life-giving water its people need to survive.

Egypt delivered its first military aid to Somalia in almost four decades end of August, a move viewed by analysts as a form of provocation to Ethiopia preceded by a bilateral defence treaty signed about two weeks earlier.

Mogadishu and Cairo agreed to deploy Egyptian forces as part of an African peacekeeping force in Somalia scheduled to begin its mission later next year.

The current Somali-Ethiopian tension broke out in January this year after Addis Ababa signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland to lease part of its coastline in return for its recognition of the region’s independence.

The deal, described by both parties as "historic," has been viewed by Mogadishu as a direct violation of its sovereignty and also denounced by Cairo.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but this has not been recognised by the international community.

Egypt's recent involvement in the Somali crisis through military and security support has raised concerns over its attempt to assume influence in the Horn of Africa.

"The situation is definitely boiling. But it is very clear Egypt wants to look like as if it is playing it safe while backstage, it is supporting Somalia against Ethiopia in what could end up to be a proxy war," a high-profile security expert told The New Arab, on condition of anonymity due to political reasons. 

"But at the end of the day, other scenarios are possible given the changing variables on the ground," concluded the expert.