Ethiopia’s state-run Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) has launched a sharp criticism of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud following Somalia’s decision to join a joint statement issued by Somalia, Egypt, Sudan and Eritrea in El-Alamein on October 4, 2026.

In a lengthy article, ENA accused the Somali president of taking a position that it said contradicts Ethiopia’s strategic interests and the broader political realities of the Horn of Africa. The article, titled “How President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s Betrayal Undermines the Realities of the Region,” focused on Somalia’s participation in the joint declaration and its potential regional implications.

ENA argued that Mogadishu’s decision could affect Ethiopia’s interests over the Nile waters and Red Sea security, framing Somalia’s alignment with Egypt, Sudan and Eritrea as a significant development in the region’s shifting political landscape.

The agency also highlighted the longstanding relationship between Ethiopia and Somalia, particularly Ethiopia’s involvement in Somalia’s political reconciliation and state-building efforts following the collapse of the country’s central government in 1991.

ENA cited the Sodere and Mbagathi conferences, arguing that Ethiopia played an important role in political processes that contributed to the formation of Somalia’s transitional administrations.

The article further emphasized Ethiopia’s military involvement in Somalia, including operations against Al-Shabaab and participation in African Union-led missions such as AMISOM, ATMIS and AUSSOM. It cited Ethiopian military deployments in areas including Baidoa, Luuq and Beledweyne as examples of Ethiopia’s contribution to Somalia’s security.

ENA’s criticism comes amid growing regional competition over strategic interests in the Horn of Africa, particularly the Nile waters, the Red Sea and regional security alliances.

Somalia’s participation in the El-Alamein statement has added another layer to the increasingly complex relationship between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa, as the two countries pursue competing diplomatic and strategic interests in a rapidly shifting regional environment.