What's happened
Egypt and Somalia have signed a defense agreement amid rising tensions with Ethiopia over a controversial naval base deal involving Somaliland. The pact is seen as a strategic move to counter Ethiopia's influence in the region, particularly concerning maritime access and territorial integrity.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia have been exacerbated by Ethiopia's agreement with Somaliland, which Somalia denounces as an infringement on its sovereignty. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has been mediating talks, emphasizing the need for Ethiopia to recognize Somalia's territorial integrity. Al Jazeera notes that the deal allows Ethiopia access to the sea, which is crucial for its economy, while Somalia has reacted strongly, expelling Ethiopian diplomats and shutting down consulates. The New Arab highlights that the defense pact is a direct response to Ethiopia's military ambitions in the region, particularly concerning the naval base in Somaliland.
How we got here
Tensions escalated after Ethiopia signed a deal with Somaliland in January 2024, granting it a naval base in exchange for recognizing Somaliland's independence. Somalia views this as a violation of its sovereignty, leading to increased military and diplomatic maneuvers in the region.
More on these topics
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Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is a sovereign country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, the Gulf of Aden to the north, the Guardafui Channel and Somali Sea to the east, and Kenya to the southwest.
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Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south, South Sudan to the west and Sudan to
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Hakan Fidan (born on 17 July 1968) is a Turkish politician currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs since June 2023. He was previously the director of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) from March 2010 until June 2023.
Fidan is seen
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Somaliland, officially the Republic of Somaliland, is an unrecognised sovereign state in the Horn of Africa, internationally considered to be part of Somalia. Somaliland lies in the Horn of Africa, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Aden.
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Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on the Balkan peninsula in Southeastern Europe.