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Egypt Urges Stability in Somalia as Ethiopia Escalates Tensions in Puntland

Egyptian Foreign Minister during his meeting with the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa in Washington (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister during his meeting with the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa in Washington (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt Urges Stability in Somalia as Ethiopia Escalates Tensions in Puntland

Egyptian Foreign Minister during his meeting with the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa in Washington (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister during his meeting with the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa in Washington (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Ethiopia has escalated tensions with Somalia by sending a "shipment of ammunition" to the Puntland region in northern Somalia. Mogadishu condemned the move, calling it a “serious violation” of its sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Egypt has emphasized the need for stability in Somalia and respect for its territorial integrity.
Experts warn that Ethiopia’s actions threaten regional security. Relations between the two countries worsened earlier this year when Addis Ababa signed a deal with the breakaway Somaliland region, allowing it access to the Red Sea for trade and military purposes.
The agreement faced opposition from Egypt and other Arab nations.
Somalia’s foreign ministry condemned the shipment of weapons to Puntland, describing it as an “illegal act” and a “grave violation of sovereignty.”
It urged Ethiopia to respect international law and called on regional and international partners to condemn Ethiopia’s actions and support peace efforts in the region.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reiterated Cairo’s commitment to Somalia’s stability and sovereignty during talks with US officials in Washington.
He emphasized that Egypt supports Somalia’s central institutions to secure the Bab al-Mandab Strait, combat terrorism, and curb illegal migration.
Abdelatty said Egypt’s backing for Somalia aligns with its role in promoting regional peace and security under UN principles, the African Union’s founding charter, and the Arab League’s charter.
He added that Egypt is helping Somalia build its security and military capabilities.
Egypt and Somalia have recently strengthened their ties. In August, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed a military cooperation agreement in Cairo.
Sisi also announced that Egypt would join the African Union peacekeeping forces in Somalia from January.
In late August, Somalia announced the arrival of Egyptian military equipment and personnel in Mogadishu as part of Egypt's peacekeeping efforts. Ethiopia opposed this, claiming it poses risks to the region and warning it “will not stand idly by.”

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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday called on major powers to “exert greater efforts to end the war in Palestine and Lebanon.” Meanwhile, an Iraqi government official urged the United States to “prevent any attacks on the country,” referring to potential Israeli strikes.
During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Sudani stressed the importance of ensuring the conflict does not escalate “to a level that threatens regional and global stability.”
The Iraqi prime minister’s appeal comes amid reports suggesting that Israel may launch strikes on Iraq in retaliation for attacks by Iraqi armed factions targeting Israeli positions.
The Iraqi government is striving to assert its exclusive authority over weapons and war-related decisions. However, armed factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance openly claim responsibility for near-daily rocket attacks on Israel. This has provided Israel with a justification for potentially targeting Iraqi territory, especially after it filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against six Iraqi factions and held Baghdad responsible for the attacks.
These factions have also openly declared their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iraqi government has been unable to take decisive action to halt the activities of these factions, which many believe could soon expose Iraq to an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Washington has warned Baghdad that Israeli airstrikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless the Iraqi government curtails attacks by Iranian-backed factions on Israel. The Times of Israel cited sources indicating that the United States has “exhausted all means of pressure on Israel” and urged Iraq to act swiftly to prevent such attacks.
Despite repeated assurances from the Iraqi government—including its recent adoption of 12 measures by the National Security Council to counter Israeli threats and complaints—the situation remains tense. These measures include monitoring Iraq’s western borders, preventing factions from launching attacks, and maintaining Iraq’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, Secretary-General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, made a striking statement on the role of resistance factions in the war and their commitment to the Unity of Fronts doctrine frequently mentioned by Axis of Resistance groups.
In an interview published by the faction’s media arm, Al-Hamidawi said: “The continuity of the Unity of Fronts concept depends on what the Lebanese Hezbollah decides.”
Al-Hamidawi also emphasized that resistance factions are constantly coordinating internally and with external partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian resistance leaders.
“We aim to ensure that the Palestinian people are not left alone and that the Unity of Fronts remains intact,” he stated.
Fadi Al-Shammari, a political advisor to Sudani, reiterated that Israel’s threats “are not new,” citing the recent complaint filed by Israel with the UN Security Council as part of its pattern of issuing threats.
In media statements, Al-Shammari reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s long-standing position: “The decision of war and peace lies solely with the Iraqi government.”
He noted that the factions’ attacks are being launched from areas outside Iraq’s borders, specifically from Syria. However, he stressed that the Iraqi government is working through its security and military agencies to prevent Iraq from becoming a battlefield for external or internal parties.
Al-Shammari also called on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with Iraq, emphasizing the need to deter and respond to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.