Egypt has advised its citizens against traveling to Somaliland due to security concerns, escalating tensions in the Horn of Africa. Cairo is supporting Somalia in its dispute with Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991 but remains unrecognized. Seeking influence in the region, Egypt has established military ties with Mogadishu and signed a defense agreement deploying troops. This move has strained relations with Ethiopia, especially over the Renaissance Dam conflict.
The Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu urged nationals to leave Somaliland immediately, citing unstable security. Meanwhile, Somalia accused Ethiopia of violating its sovereignty by shipping weapons to Puntland. The military pact between Egypt and Somalia, along with Ethiopia’s Red Sea access ambitions, has sparked concerns of regional conflict.
Somaliland rejects Egyptian forces in Somalia, claiming they contribute to proxy conflicts. They closed the Egyptian Cultural Library in Hargeisa due to security concerns. These developments highlight the complex power dynamics and potential for conflict in the Horn of Africa.
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