Today in Asmara, the leaders of Somalia, Eritrea, and Egypt convened to form a strategic alliance aimed at safeguarding Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This alliance comes in response to increasing regional instability, with a particular focus on Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s controversial actions that have raised concerns across the Horn of Africa.
Abiy Ahmed, once celebrated as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his initial efforts toward peace and regional cooperation, has since shifted course. His tenure has been marked by escalating internal unrest in Ethiopia, particularly in the Tigray, Oromia, and Amhara regions. The capital, Addis Ababa, now finds itself encircled by civil conflict as these internal wars intensify under his leadership.
Amid Ethiopia’s domestic turmoil, Abiy has also sparked new tensions beyond its borders. His administration has been accused of ignoring international norms and undermining the African Union’s principles. One of the most contentious actions has been the signing of an illegal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland on January 1, 2024, which many see as a violation of Somalia’s territorial integrity and a direct affront to the rules-based international order.
Abiy’s ambitions have extended to the Red Sea, under the guise of seeking commercial sea access. However, critics argue that Ethiopia already has sufficient access to multiple ports, including five on the Red Sea and one on the Indian Ocean, calling into question the necessity of this expansionist move.
The leaders of Somalia, Eritrea, and Egypt have expressed growing alarm over Abiy’s destabilizing behavior, viewing him as a threat not only to the peace and stability of the Horn of Africa but also to the broader nation-state system. His actions, they argue, risk the disintegration of Ethiopia into fragmented tribal regions, which could have catastrophic consequences for the entire region.
In response, the newly formed alliance between Somalia, Eritrea, and Egypt aims to uphold international law, defend Somalia’s territorial integrity, and ensure that regional stability is not further undermined. The Red Sea countries, committed to a rules-based international system, are standing together to counter what they see as a dangerous trajectory led by Abiy Ahmed.
This historic alliance underscores the growing importance of collaboration among the Red Sea nations in defending sovereignty and promoting regional peace, as the Horn of Africa faces one of its most critical junctures in recent history.
