Sunday, July 6, 2025
Mogadishu (Horn Africa News) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is facing growing pressure from both Cairo and Addis Ababa at a time when regional tensions are escalating over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Reliable sources confirm that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has extended an official invitation to President Hassan Sheikh, urging him to revive the tripartite agreements previously reached in Eritrea aimed at isolating Ethiopia diplomatically and economically.
President Hassan Sheikh is expected to travel to Egypt in the coming days for talks with President Sisi, as Cairo steps up its efforts to secure regional backing against Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has invited President Hassan Sheikh to attend a ceremony marking the completion of the controversial GERD, a move that would signify clear support for Ethiopia’s position — and risk further straining Somalia’s relations with Egypt and Sudan.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Abiy announced that the dam’s construction had been completed, hailing it as a historic achievement for Ethiopia. The dam has been at the center of a bitter dispute with Egypt, which fears it will drastically reduce its share of the Nile’s waters.
Egypt, which relies almost entirely on the Nile for water to support its population of over 100 million and its vital agricultural sector, has long opposed the project. Cairo views the dam as an existential threat.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty confirmed that negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan over the GERD have stalled. He described the failure of diplomatic efforts as deeply regrettable.
“We have made it clear that the negotiation process has reached a dead end,” said Abdelatty. “Egypt reserves the right to defend itself and safeguard its water interests against any threat.”
As tensions rise, Somalia’s next steps will be closely watched by regional and international observers, with Mogadishu caught in the middle of this high-stakes diplomatic standoff.
