When Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited Egypt last month, he handed his hosts a large file that laid out in detail the threat posed by Ethiopia and Al Shabab militants to his Horn of Africa nation.
Also in the file, The National has learnt, was a list of what his security forces needed to become a more agile counter-terrorism force. Ethiopian troops in Somalia, as part of an African Union peacekeeping force to fight Al Shabab, were doing little on the ground, complained the Somali leader. Somalia, he said, needed Egypt's help.
Frustrated by years of quarrelling with Ethiopia over his country's life-and-death share of the Nile waters, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi could not pass up on the opportunity to make Ethiopia sweat.
The two Arab League members signed a military co-operation agreement on August 14 and, less than two weeks later, Egyptian C-130 transport palnes flew arms, hardware and elite troops to Mogadishu.
The presence of Egyptian troops in Somalia, contend analysts, could persuade Ethiopia to show some flexibility and enter a legally-binding deal on the filling and operation of a giant Nile dam being built by Addis Ababa that Cairo sees as an existential threat to its share of the river's waters.
“It would not have been possible for a nation [Egypt] with so much history and rights to Nile waters to remain silent when faced with the absurdity that Ethiopia has shown us in recent years,” said Mustafa Al Fiqy, a retired career Egyptian diplomat and a prominent analyst.
“You have to show the other side that you have tools that exist although you may not necessarily use. Don't let them feel comfortable,” he counselled. “Our strategic patience when it comes to Ethiopia has run out.”
As well as its belief that the Ethiopian contingent on its territory has not been effective, Somalia is quarrelling with Ethiopia over a preliminary deal its landlocked neighbour signed this year with Somaliland to lease coastal land in exchange for possible recognition of its independence from Somalia.
Somalia called the Ethiopia-Somaliland deal an assault on its sovereignty and said it would block it by all means necessary. It has also threatened to send home the estimated 10,000 Ethiopian troops in Somalia if the deal is not cancelled.
For its part, Egypt said it planned to apply to the African Union to be part of a new peacekeeping force in Somalia which, as the host nation, would approve. But it is not clear whether the Egyptian troops already on the ground in Somalia will serve as the nucleus of Cairo's peacekeeping contingent.
What is clear though is that Egyptian troops are now posted in proximity to Ethiopian forces in Somalia and across the border in Ethiopia itself.
There has been no official Egyptian announcement on the sending of arms and troops in Somalia although images of the Egyptian C-130 transport planes sitting on the tarmac at Mogadishu airport have been widely shared online together with those of the commandos.
Analysts whose views reflect those of the government have been trying to play down the significance of the Egyptian move or dismiss the potential of armed clashes with Ethiopian troops.
“Our objective is to raise the efficiency of the Somali armed forces. We are not there to fight a war,” said Samir Farrag, a retired army general who is now a prominent military analyst known to be close to the government.
“We are there to help the Somali army stand on its two feet, safeguard the nation's national security and control every inch of Somali territory.”
The move, however, angered Ethiopia, which warned that the volatile Horn of Africa was entering uncharted waters and, without mentioning Egypt by name, said the intervention of outside forces there would destabilise the region.
Egypt countered by complaining in a letter to the UN Security Council about what it called Ethiopia's unilateral policies over the Gerd.
“Egypt has negotiated in good faith [with Ethiopia] for 13 years. The negotiations have been halted after it became clear to everyone that Addis Ababa wanted them to continue indefinitely as a cover while it created a de facto situation on the ground,” the letter said.
Heightened tension between Egypt and Ethiopia would further destabilise the Horn of Africa, as well as the larger East Africa region, already shaken by a 16-month civil war in Sudan that has created a severe displacement crisis, with two million of the 10 million displaced having fled to neighbouring nations.
Attacks on Red Sea shipping by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, have contributed to the instability in the region, with world powers vying for a foothold in the strategic stretch of water and Egypt struggling to cope with a sharp reduction in its revenue from the Suez Canal, a man-made waterway linking the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, as a result of the attacks.
“I don't think that the Egyptian move will necessarily set off a war in the Horn of Africa, but it's indicative of persistent tension there,” said Michael Hanna, a New York-based Middle East expert with the International Crisis Group think tank.
As a means to pressure Ethiopia into a more flexible approach towards the dam dispute, Egypt has over the past decade sought to forge closer relations with some of Ethiopia's neighbours as well as fellow Nile basin nations, lending them its expertise in a variety of fields and occasionally sending aid. Mr El Sisi has also travelled in sub-Saharan Africa more than any of his predecessors.
That strategy was also meant to counter the narrative Ethiopia has been spreading of Egypt selfishly taking the lion's share of the Nile waters without paying heed to the needs of less developed Nile basin nations.
Ethiopia views the dam as crucial to the impoverished nation’s development and has repeatedly sought to assure downstream Egypt and Sudan that they would not be impacted by it.
Egypt said it had not been effected by five annual fillings of the water reservoir behind the Gerd, but maintains that’s the case only because the rain over the Ethiopian highlands has been plentiful.
Egypt has, on the other hand, secured a military centre in Djibouti, a neighbour of Ethiopia that overlooks the southern entrance of the Red Sea. It has also struck an alliance with Eritrea, a traditional foe of Ethiopia whose secession from its larger neighbour in 1991 left the latter a landlocked nation.
Egypt also saw an opportunity to put pressure on Ethiopia just before the Tigray war erupted when a dormant Ethiopian-Sudanese border dispute turned violent, with scores killed from both sides in a series of clashes.
Egypt and Sudan rushed to sign a military co-operation agreement as Cairo pledged to come to the defence of its southern neighbour against any attack. Sudan and Ethiopia later agreed to settle their dispute through negotiations and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Khartoum, where he received a warm welcome from Sudanese military leader Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan.
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It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
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Low turnout
Two months before the first round on April 10, the appetite of voters for the election is low.
Mathieu Gallard, account manager with Ipsos, which conducted the most recent poll, said current forecasts suggested only two-thirds were "very likely" to vote in the first round, compared with a 78 per cent turnout in the 2017 presidential elections.
"It depends on how interesting the campaign is on their main concerns," he told The National. "Just now, it's hard to say who, between Macron and the candidates of the right, would be most affected by a low turnout."
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Big%20Ape%20Productions%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20LucasArts%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PC%2C%20PlayStation%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results:
5pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600 metres
Winner: Dasan Da, Saeed Al Mazrooei (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Saabah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Mukaram, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
Winner: MH Tawag, Richard Mullen, Elise Jeanne
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) | Dh70,000 | 1,400m
Winner: RB Inferno, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh100,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Juthoor, Jim Crowley, Erwan Charpy
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Fight card
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) v Rey Nacionales (PHI)
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROM) v Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR)
Catch 74kg
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) v Omar Hussein (JOR)
Strawweight (Female)
Weronika Zygmunt (POL) v Seo Ye-dam (KOR)
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) v Walid Laidi (ALG)
Lightweight
Leandro Martins (BRA) v Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW)
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) v Sofiane Benchohra (ALG)
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR)
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Glen Ranillo (PHI)
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) v Aidan Aguilera (AUS)
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) Sasha Palatnikov (HKG)
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What is Reform?
Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.
It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.
Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.
After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.
Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.
The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
More from Neighbourhood Watch
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Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
UAE SQUAD FOR ASIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP
Men’s squad: Faisal Al Ketbi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Kathiri, Thiab Al Nuaimi, Khaled Al Shehhi, Mohamed Ali Al Suwaidi, Farraj Khaled Al Awlaqi, Muhammad Al Ameri, Mahdi Al Awlaqi, Saeed Al Qubaisi, Abdullah Al Qubaisi and Hazaa Farhan
Women's squad: Hamda Al Shekheili, Shouq Al Dhanhani, Balqis Abdullah, Sharifa Al Namani, Asma Al Hosani, Maitha Sultan, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Maha Al Hanaei, Shamma Al Kalbani, Haya Al Jahuri, Mahra Mahfouz, Marwa Al Hosani, Tasneem Al Jahoori and Maryam Al Amri
