African state warns nationals to leave breakaway region

Cairo’s decision comes after Somaliland ordered the closure of an Egyptian library and expelled its staff

Egypt has warned its nationals living in Somaliland to leave as soon as possible, claiming that the current security situation in the breakaway region constrains its ability to provide consular assistance.

The move on Sunday came just days after Somaliland’s government shut down an Egyptian library in the capital, Hargeisa, and ordered staff at the facility to leave its territory within 72 hours.

“We urge all Egyptian nationals not to travel to the Somaliland region of the Federal Republic of Somalia, given the impact of the unstable security situation on their safety,” the Egyptian Embassy said in a statement published by local media.

Tensions have been on the rise in the Horn of Africa since Somaliland agreed in January to lease 20km (12 miles) of coastal land to Ethiopia for 50 years. The deal would grant the landlocked state access to the Red Sea and allow for the construction of a marine force base, allegedly in exchange for recognition of Somaliland’s independence, which was declared in 1991.

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Somalia, which considers the breakaway region as part of its territory, has deemed the pact illegal, an act of aggression, and a threat to its sovereignty. Since then, the East African state has sought Egypt’s support against Ethiopia. Cairo itself has long been at odds with Addis Ababa over the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile.

Last month, Cairo sent military aid, including weapons, to Mogadishu after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi promised to defend Somalia against security threats. The delivery of arms to Somalia has raised concerns in Ethiopia, escalating regional tensions.

On Friday, the Somali Foreign Ministry issued a statement accusing Addis Ababa of “threatening regional security” by supplying arms to the semi-autonomous region.

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Ethiopia previously called a similar claim in July “baseless.” Its prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, has also repeatedly denied accusations of land grab, stating that Addis Ababa has no intention of seizing others’ “belongings” or engaging “in conflict with any country.” 

While announcing the closure of the Egyptian library in Hargeisa on September 11, Somaliland Foreign Affairs Minister Issa Kayd declared that the maritime deal between the region and Ethiopia had been finalized and that a formal legal treaty was imminent.

“We know that Egypt has weapons shipped to the government of Mogadishu which we believe is harmful to the security and stability of the country, so we have decided to expel the purported librarians from the country whom we believe to be with sinister motives,” Somaliland Standard quoted the diplomat as saying.