Ethiopia’s top military commander, Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, has issued a stern warning about the growing presence of foreign troops in Somalia, calling it a serious threat to Ethiopia’s national security.
While avoiding direct mention of Egypt, his comments come in the wake of a reported military cooperation deal signed between Cairo and Mogadishu in August 2024.
“Foreign military presence under the guise of cooperation is a regional concern,” Berhanu said during a briefing in Addis Ababa.
The warning signals heightened tensions in the Horn of Africa, where Ethiopia’s strained relations with Somalia and Egypt—particularly over Nile water rights and maritime access—have triggered growing geopolitical unease.