Mogadishu (KAAB TV) – The Federal Government of Somalia finds itself in the middle of a delicate policy involving Egypt, Eritrea and Ethiopia – three countries with conflicting interests and ongoing tensions.
Each of these countries is trying to strengthen its strategic relationship with Somalia, given its location in the Horn of Africa.
Egypt is very interested in Somalia putting pressure on Ethiopia, which is primarily the dispute over the use of the Nile River. The construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in Ethiopia has caused great concern in Egypt, which is heavily dependent on the Nile River for its water needs. The dam has been a controversial issue, with Egypt strongly opposed to what it sees as a threat to water security.
Ethiopia, in the Horn of Africa, and Egypt, in North Africa, are locked in a long-running dispute over the use of the Nile’s water. If Ethiopia were to control the flow of the river, it could greatly affect Egypt’s access to this important resource.
On the other hand, Somalia aims to bring these countries together for a united action, despite the long-term political rivalry between them. The government of Somalia is planning to join its military forces in a joint operation, although the deep tensions between these countries are major obstacles to achieving lasting peace.
Eritrea, which seceded from Ethiopia in 1993, is still worried about Ethiopia’s greed. Asmara sees Addis Ababa’s interest in training its troops as a potential threat, given Ethiopia’s desire to access key Eritrean port facilities along the Red Sea. Eritrea used to provide training to Somali forces, some of them were sent back, and some were given special training in the air, sea and land forces. Somalia has taken steps to show its commitment to balancing these relations. Recently, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia held special meetings with his counterparts in Egypt and Eritrea. The talks focused on security, stability in Somalia, and the new support of the African Union in Somalia (AUSSOM).
Somalia plans to continue these talks in Cairo and Addis Ababa on January 15, where the Somali government will negotiate with the AUSSOM mission. The remaining challenge is: how can Somalia effectively manage its relations with Egypt, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, given their diverse interests and ambitions in the region?