The government of Egypt has issued a warning to its citizens residing in Somaliland, urging them to depart promptly due to the deteriorating security conditions in the breakaway region, which limit the country’s capacity to offer consular support.
This announcement was made yesterday, shortly after the Somaliland government closed an Egyptian library in Hargeisa and instructed the staff to vacate the premises within 72 hours.
In a statement published by local media, the Egyptian Embassy said:
“We urge all Egyptian nationals not to travel to the Somaliland region of the Federal Republic of Somalia, given the impact of the unstable security situation on their safety.”
Tensions have escalated in the Horn of Africa following Somaliland’s decision in January to lease 20 kilometers (12 miles) of coastal land to Ethiopia for a duration of 50 years. This agreement would provide the landlocked nation with access to the Red Sea and facilitate the establishment of a marine force base, reportedly in return for recognition of Somaliland’s independence, which was proclaimed in 1991.
Somalia, which regards the secessionist region as part of its own territory, has labeled the agreement as illegal, an act of aggression, and a violation of its sovereignty. In response, the East African nation has sought support from Egypt against Ethiopia. Cairo has historically been in conflict with Addis Ababa regarding the management of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile.
Recently, Cairo provided military assistance, comprising weaponry, to Mogadishu following a commitment from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to safeguard Somalia from security challenges. This transfer of arms to Somalia has heightened apprehensions in Ethiopia, thereby intensifying regional tensions.
Last Friday, the Somali Foreign Ministry released a statement alleging that Addis Ababa is “endangering regional security” through its provision of arms to the semi-autonomous region.
Ethiopia had previously characterized a similar assertion made in July as “baseless.” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has consistently refuted allegations of land acquisition, emphasizing that Addis Ababa does not aim to appropriate others’ “possessions” or to engage “in conflict with any nation.”
During the announcement of the closure of the Egyptian library in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s Foreign Affairs Minister Issa Kayd declared that the maritime agreement between the region and Ethiopia had been completed, and that a formal legal treaty was forthcoming.
According to Somaliland Standard newspaper, Minister Kayd said: “It is our understanding that Egypt has supplied weapons to the government of Mogadishu, which we consider detrimental to the security and stability of the nation. Consequently, we have made the decision to expel the alleged librarians from the country, as we suspect they harbor malicious intentions.”
