MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Ethiopia’s ambassador to Somalia has voiced strong reservations over Egypt’s expected participation in the African Union’s new peacekeeping mission in Somalia, questioning Cairo’s capacity to contribute meaningfully to stabilisation efforts in the Horn of Africa nation.
In an interview with the Mogadishu-based Universal Somali TV, Ambassador Sulaiman Dedefo said Egypt lacks a credible track record in international peacekeeping and has historically made no significant strides to foster peace in its conflict-stricken neighbours, including Libya, Sudan, and the Gaza Strip.
While acknowledging that both the Somali federal government and the African Union reserve the right to choose troop-contributing countries for the African Union Transition Mission’s successor, Dedefo maintained that Egyptian forces would bring limited value to long-term peace and stabilisation goals in Somalia.
The ambassador dismissed any suggestion that Ethiopia viewed Egypt’s deployment with alarm, stressing that Addis Ababa did not perceive the move as a threat. However, he cautioned that any attempt by Egyptian troops to interfere with Ethiopian peacekeeping operations would be met with appropriate responses.
“Ethiopia cannot be threatened by the presence of Egyptian troops in Somalia,” he said.
Addressing the longstanding Nile water dispute, Dedefo criticised Egypt’s opposition to Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam project, which Addis Ababa recently declared fully operational. He accused Cairo of harbouring resentment over Ethiopia’s development ambitions and of obstructing regional cooperation.
On recent reports alleging Ethiopian involvement in clashes between Somali federal forces and Jubaland regional troops in the border town of Dolow, the ambassador denied any such engagement. He stated that while complaints had been received, Ethiopian troops stationed near the area had only provided medical assistance to wounded Somali government soldiers and had no role in the fighting.
Dedefo reiterated that Ethiopian forces remain committed to peacekeeping and would not align themselves with any of Somalia’s internal factions.
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