Tension may develop in the Horn of Africa region after two C-130 Egyptian military planes arrived at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia on Tuesday.
According to information reaching APA on Wednesday, the planes were carrying military equipment ahead of the deployment of 10,000 Egyptian forces in Somalia as part of a defense pact between the two countries.
Ethiopia has not reacted publicly to the presence of Egyptian military personnel and equipment in Somalia.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohammed of Somalia recently canceled the third round of Turkey initiated indirect talks with Ethiopia in Ankara.
Tension developed in the region after Ethiopia and breakaway Somaliland signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which offered, when completed, the former access to 20 kilometers of coast in Somaliland on a 50 years rental arrangement.
Because of the agreement, Somalia has been accusing Ethiopia of “violating its sovereignty” over Somaliland which has been existing as a de facto state for over 33 years.
The government of Somalia has been garnering diplomatic and military support – particularly from Egypt and Eritrea.
Egypt and Ethiopia have been in a tense relation due to the building on the River Nile of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) over 97 percent of which is completed.
Cairo holds that the GERD dam would compromise its natural share of water from Africa’s longest river.
Somalia has made it clear it was not keen on Ethiopian troops as peacekeepers under the upcoming African Union Peacekeeping Mission.
MG/as/APA