Tuesday September 9, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia’s defence minister defended the Arab League on Tuesday after Ethiopia’s ambassador accused the bloc of siding with Egypt in the dispute over the Nile River and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said the Arab League plays a vital role in strengthening cooperation among its members and safeguarding their sovereignty. He stressed that Somalia values the League’s consistent support for the country’s fragile state-building efforts.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Fiqi wrote: “Somalia is an integral member of the Arab League & is grateful for its unwavering support for Somalia & its state-building efforts. The League's main goal is to draw closer the relations between member states and coordinate collaboration between them, to safeguard their sovereignty.”
His remarks came after Ethiopia’s envoy to Mogadishu, Suleyman Dedefo, accused the Arab League of acting as an extension of Egypt’s foreign policy. Dedefo argued the bloc routinely rejects Ethiopia’s position on the Nile while ignoring humanitarian crises in Arab countries.
The ambassador dismissed Egypt’s concerns over GERD as unfounded, insisting Ethiopia would continue constructing dams. “Egypt’s efforts to obstruct Ethiopia’s progress have already failed,” he said.
The Arab League recently condemned Ethiopia for pressing ahead with GERD without a legally binding water-sharing deal with Egypt and Sudan. Cairo says the project threatens its water security, while Addis Ababa maintains it is exercising its sovereign right to develop natural resources.
Somalia faces a delicate balancing act as it tries to preserve relations with both Ethiopia and Egypt while relying on the Arab League for political and financial support. At the same time, Ethiopia remains a powerful neighbour and security partner in the Horn of Africa.