Somalia accused Ethiopia of smuggling weapons on Tuesday amid fears that arms going into the conflict-riven Horn of Africa nation could end up in the hands of Islamist militants. The neighbours traded barbs a day after an Egyptian warship unloaded heavy weaponry in Somalia's capital Mogadishu,

There has been escalating tension between Ethiopia and Somalia ever since Ethiopia signed a Memorandum of Understanding earlier this year with the breakaway Republic of Somaliland - which Somalia claims - for access to its ports.

Egyptian military aid, including artillery and anti-aircraft guns, has arrived in Somalia, reaffirming Cairo's support amid growing tensions with Ethiopia.

Ethiopia's foreign minister has warned that ammunition supplied to Somalia could worsen the fragile security situation and end up in the hands of terrorists, Ethiopia's state news agency reported on Tuesday.

Hargeisa said Egypt’s decision to send Somalia a second cache of weaponry will jeopardise the security of a region already facing complex security challenges, calling for an Immediate action to avert a broader conflict and maintain the region’s fragile stability.

Somalia has accused Ethiopia of supplying weapons to its northeastern Puntland region amid growing tensions between the Horn of Africa neighbours.

Ethiopia currently has 3,000 troops in Somalia as part of an African Union force supporting the government. There is now a plan for up to 5,000 Egyptian soldiers to join a new-look AU force at the end of the year, with another 5,000 reportedly to be deployed separately.

An Egyptian warship delivered a major arms cache to Somalia, escalating tensions with Ethiopia. The move follows a joint security pact between Egypt and Somalia. Earlier, Ethiopia had upset Somalia by signing a deal with Somaliland.

NAIROBI - Ethiopia's foreign minister has expressed concerns about ammunition being supplied to Somalia potentially ending up with terrorists, Ethiopia's state news reported on Tuesday. Read more at straitstimes.

Ethiopia's foreign minister has warned that ammunition supplied to Somalia could exacerbate conflict and be diverted to terrorists, Ethiopia's state news agency reported on Tuesday. His statement came a day after an Egyptian warship unloaded heavy weaponry in the capital Mogadishu,

The Egyptian warship began unloading the weapons on Sunday, one diplomat said. Security forces blocked off the quayside and surrounding roads on Sunday and Monday as convoys carri