Overview
- Unnamed sources quoted by The National, cited by the Jerusalem Post, claim Egypt has reassigned a 10,000-strong force to Somalia, a development that has not been independently confirmed.
- Egyptian officials frame the Horn of Africa as vital to national security, with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirming support for Somalia’s territorial integrity and rejecting unilateral moves.
- Reporting says Egypt has expanded defense ties by deploying advisors since 2024 and by pursuing upgrades at Djibouti’s Doraleh and Eritrea’s Assab ports to accommodate Egyptian warships.
- Israel formally recognized Somaliland on December 26, 2025, and advanced diplomatic steps through a Hargeisa visit by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, drawing strong condemnation from Somalia.
- Regional analysis describes a sharpening alignment that links Israel and the UAE with Somaliland against a camp including Egypt, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, and others focused on preserving existing borders.