Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi declared in “a message to Ethiopians” on Sunday that “Egypt will not allow anyone to threaten Somalia or affect its security.”
“Do not try Egypt, or try to threaten its brothers, especially if they ask it to intervene,” el-Sissi said during a visit from Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Controversial deal between Somaliland and Ethiopia sparking anger
The comments come after Ethiopia announced that it may recognize independence claims put forth by the former British protectorate Somaliland in 1991. This would be in exchange for an agreement to a port lease giving Ethiopia access to the sea and the ability to establish and operate a commercial and naval base along a 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) stretch of coastline on the Gulf of Aden for the next 50 years.
Somalia called the January 1 memorandum of understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland — which maintains its own government, security forces and currency despite lacking international recognition — an “act of aggression.”
At news of the signing, Somali President Sheikh Mohamud said, “We will not stand idly by and watch our sovereignty being compromised.”
Mogadishu has demanded Ethiopia withdraw from the “illegal” agreement and “reaffirm the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.”
El-Sissi, who said Egypt would not allow Ethiopia “to infringe upon Somalia’s territory,” slammed Adidas Ababa for its dealings with the breakaway region.
Not the first time Ethiopia has irked Cairo
Relations between Egypt and Ethiopia have been troubled for over a decade by the construction and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, an infrastructure mega-project that Ethiopia has built on the Blue Nile, upstream from Egypt.
Talks between the two, along with neighboring Sudan, have so far failed to produce consensus, as Cairo continues to voice concerns over water security.
Last week, Egypt’s foreign minister labelled Ethiopia, “a source of instability in the region.”
js/msh (AFP, AP, Reuters)
