File Photo/Somali Times
President Hassan Sheikh yesterday travelled to Egypt, the schedule of which was obtained by Somali Times. This is the fifth time that President Hassan Sheikh has visited the country since he was re-elected as President of Somalia on May 15, 2022.
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This trip is related to the geopolitical challenges that are raging in the region, especially issues related to the exploitation of the waters of the Nile River and the Red Sea, in which Ethiopia is directly involved.
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The Somalia Presidency describes each trip as related to cooperation between the two countries, while the Egyptian Presidency has often used its own political titles for President Hassan Sheikh’s trips.
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So far, no significant changes have been reported in the relations between the two countries or their cooperation, and there is no visible support that Egypt has provided directly to Somalia, except for limited weapons and vehicles that have not been explicitly discussed.
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As Somali Times has learned, the President’s visit today comes after pressure from Egypt, with President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi reportedly keen for Somalia to attend a trilateral summit between the presidents of Egypt, Eritrea and Somalia before September.
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Egypt wants the summit to be a platform for the three countries to reach a common position on issues related to the Nile River and the Red Sea, which could send a clear message to Ethiopia — at a time when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is planning to inaugurate the Abiy Dam.
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Abiy Ahmed has sent invitations to regional leaders to attend the Abiy Dam inauguration ceremony, and it is believed that the Somali President is among the invited leaders — however, he is currently in Cairo.
The rivalry between Egypt and Ethiopia has now reached a regional level, with fears that the dispute could spread to other countries, raising the possibility of a political or military confrontation in the Horn of Africa.
Officials at the Somalia Presidency told Somali Times, that President Hassan Sheikh will use his trip as a political excuse, with plans to visit several capitals to show each side satisfaction and balance his position.
Somalia’s decision to revive the trilateral alliance between Egypt, Eritrea and Somalia — whether it is approved or rejected — will have a significant impact on how Ethiopia reacts to the move.
Diplomatic sources say that Abiy Ahmed is seriously considering a formal invitation to the President of Hargeisa administration, Abdirahman Irro, who has yet to visit Ethiopia.
A planned trip by Irro to Addis Ababa has reportedly been postponed after pressure from the Somalia federal government.
Ethiopia’s next move will be known for sure at the end of President Hassan Sheikh’s current visit to Cairo.
The Somalia president faces a serious diplomatic test, as he finds himself in the middle of a political battle with countries that will not allow him to have a neutral.