Somalia's Support for Al-Alamein Declaration Draws Criticism from Ethiopian Analysts

Somalia's decision to support the Al-Alamein Declaration, signed during a regional summit in Egypt, has drawn sharp criticism from Ethiopian analysts and officials. Ethiopian state media commentary argued that the agreement, signed on October 4 by leaders of Somalia, Egypt, Eritrea, and Sudan, undermines Ethiopia's strategic interests regarding the Nile waters and Red Sea security. The commentary highlighted Ethiopia's decades-long military and diplomatic sacrifices to stabilize Somalia, framing Mogadishu's alignment with Egypt as a disregard for this historical support. Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that its rights to equitable utilization of the Nile Basin cannot be altered by political declarations. In response, Somali officials maintained that as a sovereign nation, Somalia reserves the right to pursue diplomatic partnerships that safeguard its national interest and territorial integrity. Additionally, the declaration's emphasis on limiting Red Sea governance exclusively to coastal states remains a key point of contention for landlocked Ethiopia.