Mogadishu – Somalia’s Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has defended the Arab League after Ethiopia’s ambassador to Somalia accused the organization of siding with Egypt in the Nile River dispute.

Fiqi underlined the League’s importance in promoting cooperation and protecting the sovereignty of member states, adding that Somalia values its continued support for rebuilding national institutions.

His remarks followed strong criticism from Ethiopian Ambassador Suleiman Dedefo, who claimed the Arab League acts as an arm of Egypt’s foreign policy and has ignored humanitarian crises in the Arab world.

The dispute comes as tensions remain high over Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The Arab League recently condemned Addis Ababa for pushing ahead with the project without a binding agreement with Egypt and Sudan. Ethiopia, however, insists it has the sovereign right to harness its water resources, while Egypt argues the dam threatens its water security.

Caught between Cairo and Addis Ababa, Somalia faces a delicate diplomatic balancing act as it seeks to maintain close ties with both sides while reaffirming its commitment to the Arab League.