14.01.2026, 18:58
Egypt to expand military mission in Somalia due to Israel's recognition of Somaliland's independence
Source: OREANDA-NEWS
OREANDA-NEWS The Egyptian authorities are increasing the scale of the military mission operating in Somalia from 2024 due to the fact that Israel was the first in the world to recognize the independence of the Somaliland region at the end of 2025, The National reported on Wednesday, citing sources.
Sources said Egypt is expanding its military mission in Somalia, with protecting the government of President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud as a top priority, following Israel's recognition of the independence of the separatist region of Somaliland.
According to the interlocutors, Cairo fears that Israel will gain an outpost in the region, which Egypt considers vital for its security.
"Sources familiar with Egyptian politics also said that the Egyptian government fears that Israel will use its influence in Somaliland to build ties with Ethiopia, with which Egypt has been arguing for years over the use of the waters of the Nile River," the newspaper notes.
One of the interlocutors of the publication stressed that for Cairo, one of the main tasks now is the survival of the government in Mogadishu. He expressed fears that Israel and Ethiopia might try to cause its collapse.
According to sources, the Egyptian contingent in Somalia is 10,000 people.
In addition, the newspaper reminds that in recent years, Cairo has spoken out against Ethiopia's attempts to gain access to the Red Sea through agreements with the Somaliland authorities. In turn, Egypt has been building bilateral agreements with the States of the region - Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya, and Eritrea. Egypt has agreed to modernize the port of Dorale in Djibouti and Aseb in Eritrea, including to obtain bases for the Egyptian Navy.
The sources also said that the expansion of Israel's influence in the region worries Cairo, including due to the fact that Egypt is trying to reach a legally binding agreement regarding Ethiopia's recently launched Great Ethiopian Renaissance hydroelectric power station on the Blue Nile: Egypt, with a population of approximately 108 million people, is heavily dependent on the waters of the Nile. At the same time, the Egyptian authorities are trying to negotiate with other countries through which the Nile flows, conclude a collective agreement on the use of its resources, and offer technical assistance in its implementation.
On December 26, 2025, it became known that Israel was the first in the world to recognize the independence of Somaliland. On the same day, Egypt, Turkey, Somalia and Djibouti condemned the decision. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Gulf Arab Cooperation Council also criticized the move. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have assured the Somali authorities of their support. The EU also stressed the importance of respecting the territorial integrity of Somalia.
Sources said Egypt is expanding its military mission in Somalia, with protecting the government of President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud as a top priority, following Israel's recognition of the independence of the separatist region of Somaliland.
According to the interlocutors, Cairo fears that Israel will gain an outpost in the region, which Egypt considers vital for its security.
"Sources familiar with Egyptian politics also said that the Egyptian government fears that Israel will use its influence in Somaliland to build ties with Ethiopia, with which Egypt has been arguing for years over the use of the waters of the Nile River," the newspaper notes.
One of the interlocutors of the publication stressed that for Cairo, one of the main tasks now is the survival of the government in Mogadishu. He expressed fears that Israel and Ethiopia might try to cause its collapse.
According to sources, the Egyptian contingent in Somalia is 10,000 people.
In addition, the newspaper reminds that in recent years, Cairo has spoken out against Ethiopia's attempts to gain access to the Red Sea through agreements with the Somaliland authorities. In turn, Egypt has been building bilateral agreements with the States of the region - Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya, and Eritrea. Egypt has agreed to modernize the port of Dorale in Djibouti and Aseb in Eritrea, including to obtain bases for the Egyptian Navy.
The sources also said that the expansion of Israel's influence in the region worries Cairo, including due to the fact that Egypt is trying to reach a legally binding agreement regarding Ethiopia's recently launched Great Ethiopian Renaissance hydroelectric power station on the Blue Nile: Egypt, with a population of approximately 108 million people, is heavily dependent on the waters of the Nile. At the same time, the Egyptian authorities are trying to negotiate with other countries through which the Nile flows, conclude a collective agreement on the use of its resources, and offer technical assistance in its implementation.
On December 26, 2025, it became known that Israel was the first in the world to recognize the independence of Somaliland. On the same day, Egypt, Turkey, Somalia and Djibouti condemned the decision. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Gulf Arab Cooperation Council also criticized the move. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have assured the Somali authorities of their support. The EU also stressed the importance of respecting the territorial integrity of Somalia.
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