Egypt-Somalia Military Cooperation Escalates Tensions with Ethiopia

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi receives his Somali counterpart at the Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo in mid-August (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi receives his Somali counterpart at the Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo in mid-August (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt-Somalia Military Cooperation Escalates Tensions with Ethiopia

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi receives his Somali counterpart at the Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo in mid-August (Egyptian Presidency)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi receives his Somali counterpart at the Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo in mid-August (Egyptian Presidency)

After Somalia announced the arrival of Egyptian military equipment and delegations, Ethiopia, which has ongoing tensions with Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), voiced concern and hinted it “will not stand by.”

Ethiopian state media reported troop movements along the Somali border, raising fears of possible consequences, although Egypt has yet to officially respond.

Experts told Asharq Al-Awsat that sending Egyptian forces to Somalia could “increase tensions” with Ethiopia but predicted that any fallout would likely be diplomatic, not military.

Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nebiat Getachew expressed concerns on Wednesday, saying Ethiopia is worried about the transition of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to a new peace support mission without addressing Ethiopia’s concerns.

He warned that this could “pose risks to the region.”

Ethiopia also stated it “cannot remain passive while other actors take actions that might destabilize the region” and said it is closely monitoring developments that could threaten its national security.

This follows statements by Somalia’s Ambassador to Egypt, Ali Abdi Aware, affirming that Egyptian military equipment and delegations have started arriving in Mogadishu as part of Egypt’s participation in peacekeeping forces.

The Somali ambassador called this step “important and the first practical move” to implement the results of the recent summit between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Cairo on August 14.

The summit led to the signing of a joint defense agreement between the two countries.

Egypt is preparing to join the African Union Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which will replace the current African Union mission by January 2025, according to the Somali ambassador.

Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry criticized this move, arguing that “instead of continuing peace talks in Türkiye, which have made progress, the Somali government is working with outside parties to destabilize the region and increase tensions.”

The ministry warned of potential “serious consequences.”



Wiretapping Scandal Continues to Rock Iraq

Two prominent members of the Coordination Framework were targeted by the wiretapping network. (Government media)
Two prominent members of the Coordination Framework were targeted by the wiretapping network. (Government media)
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Wiretapping Scandal Continues to Rock Iraq

Two prominent members of the Coordination Framework were targeted by the wiretapping network. (Government media)
Two prominent members of the Coordination Framework were targeted by the wiretapping network. (Government media)

“Several politicians” were the victims of the wiretapping network that was busted at the Iraqi prime minister’s office, informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The investigations revealed that two prominent members of the ruling pro-Iran Coordination Framework are among the targets, while it seems that the wiretapping was aimed at politically extorting its victims.

News emerged last week over the arrest of a wiretapping network at PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's office. Detainees included employees and cyber security officers working at the office.

Local reports said the network had also spied on Faiq Zidan, head of the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council, but he denied the claims.

Investigations with the main suspect in the network appear to have led to other partners, revealed information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat.

Confessions by the detainees revealed that the network, which began operating in late 2023, was charged with spying on senior state officials with the aim of political extortion, said sources.

Observers have described the case a “major breach of the government.”

Sudani issued on August 20 a statement saying that he ordered the formation of an investigation committee against an employee at his office for supporting a “position that is harmful to some officials and several lawmakers.”

Legal measures have been taken against that employee, but the government hasn’t issued a follow-up statement yet about its further proceedings.

Mohammed Juhi, aide to the PM’s media director, has been viewed as the main suspect in the wiretapping case. He has since been suspended until investigations are completed.

Reports have said he used to work at the Health Ministry before assuming his post at the PM’s office. His uncle, Judge Raed Juhi, used to work at former PM Mustafa al-Kadhimi's office.

Seven suspects, including Mohammed Juhi and an intelligence officer, have since been arrested in the wiretapping case.

The New Region website said Mohammed Juhi was only a “tool, not the real head” of the spy network.

“He (Juhi) was reached by following a link to one of the pages associated with him personally. Following the link led the National Security personnel directly to his home inside the Green Zone, where he was arrested,” it reported according to sources.

The report also said Zidan was among the targets of the network.

Zidan’s quick denial of the reports only fueled speculation among Iraqis that he was indeed a victim of the network.

Informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that while the network did target politicians and officials, it did not reach Zidan.

They confirmed that two prominent members of the Coordination Framework were indeed targeted.

MP Mustafa Sanad said last week that the network had spied on the telephones of several lawmakers and politicians, including himself.

It was also controlling electronic armies, fabricating fake news, and assuming the identity of politicians and businessmen.

The network has confessed to its crimes, he added, while revealing that a lot of pressure was being exerted to release the suspects. The judge handling their case has not yielded to the pressure.

Sources close to the Coordination Framework told Asharq Al-Awsat that the wiretapping case has “angered the alliance and it is trying to keep its details from going public because it is a great embarrassment to the government.”

They did not rule out the possibility that senior officials at the PM’s office may be involved in the network over disputes with influential judges.