Somali PM Announces Shift in Stance, Rejects Egypt VS Ethiopia Proxy War in Somalia

by: Horn Observer Contributor | 13 September 2024 13:03

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Somali PM Announces Shift in Stance, Rejects Egypt VS Ethiopia Proxy War in Somalia

BAIDOA, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) - On Thursday, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre announced a significant shift in his government's stance towards Ethiopia, stating that Somalia would not permit Egypt to bring its proxy war into Somali borde

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During his visit to Baidoa, Barre met with local authorities, including members of President Abdiasis Laftagareen of Southwest State. | PHOTO/ OFFICIAL.

BAIDOA, Somalia (HORN OBSERVER) - On Thursday, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre announced a significant shift in his government's stance towards Ethiopia, stating that Somalia would not permit Egypt to bring its proxy war into Somali borders.

Speaking in Baidoa, the interim capital of Southwest State, Barre made it clear that his administration would not allow external governments "to kill each other inside Somalia."

Barre's comments appeared to address growing concerns among local populations that Egypt might be seeking to open a new front of conflict against Ethiopia, Somalia’s immediate neighbor and a key player in providing security for millions of Somalis.

"We will not allow other governments to kill one another in our country. We will work to ensure that conflicts between other governments, [Egypt and Ethiopia], remain between them,” said Barre, who holds both Somali and Ethiopian nationalities.

During his visit to Baidoa, Barre met with local authorities, including members of President Abdiasis Laftagareen’s cabinet, traditional clan elders, and community leaders. Discussions centered around the local population's strong support for Ethiopian peacekeepers, who play a critical role in securing the region.

Barre’s visit followed a public statement by President Laftagareen of Southwest State, in which he criticized the Mogadishu government for the proposed deployment of Egyptian forces.

The Southwest leadership has backed recent protests in various towns, where locals expressed support for the Ethiopian forces currently stationed in the region.

The Southwest State, primarily inhabited by the Rahanweyn clans, has also hinted at seeking its own path if Mogadishu continues to disregard its preferences.

There is growing frustration in the region, and some leaders have even suggested pursuing a future independent of Mogadishu’s authority should the central government persist in ignoring the Southwest State's concerns.

Barre’s new declaration comes at a time when President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his administration face accusations of being closely aligned with Egypt, partly due to sectarian ties.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his government have long been suspected of having links to the Muslim Brotherhood, despite Egypt’s ongoing crackdown on the group.

Recent reports have suggested that Barre, along with several Somali intelligence officials and their families, were granted residency permits in Egypt.

Additionally, a few weeks ago, Egypt sent military aircraft carrying weapons and logistical supplies to Mogadishu amid the growing tensions between Cairo and Addis Ababa over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently expressed deep concerns about the upcoming transition from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to a new peace support mission, warning that this shift could seriously jeopardize regional stability.

Ethiopia described the situation as entering "uncharted waters” as the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) prepare for the transition.