Ethiopia has voiced strong concerns over Egypt's recent military deployment to Somalia, warning it risks inflaming tensions in the volatile Horn of Africa region.
In a statement on Thursday, Ethiopia's foreign ministry said it viewed the transition from the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia to a new force as "fraught with dangers" without proper consultation of regional countries.
“Ethiopia cannot stand idle while other actors are taking measures to destabilize the region,” the ministry adds.
Egypt has sent 5,000 troops along with tanks and jets to bolster security in Somalia as part of a new bilateral agreement.
However, Ethiopia said repeated calls by itself and other troop contributing countries to be involved in discussions have been ignored. It accuses Somalia of potentially "colluding with external actors aiming to destabilize the region."
The ministry warns any actions that destabilize security gains against groups like al Shabaab would have "grave ramifications."
Ethiopia and Egypt have been locked in a long-running dispute over their shared borders and a hydropower dam project on Ethiopia's Blue Nile river.
Observers say Egypt fears the dam could significantly reduce its downstream water supplies, while Addis Ababa insists the project is vital for its economic development.
Tensions in the Horn of Africa are running high as countries navigate an increasing web of geopolitical rivalries. Ethiopia said “forces trying to inflame tension for their short-term and futile objectives must shoulder the grave ramifications.”
Ethiopia cannot tolerate these actions that endanger the gains made against regional and international terrorist groups, the ministry adds.