Some experts now see the general security of the Red Sea as a second water dispute that has attracted Egypt to Somalia

Egypt, which has a separate dispute with Ethiopia over the sharing of Nile river waters, strongly supports Somalia. Leaders of the two countries in August signed a defense agreement, followed by the first shipment of military equipment delivered by two C-130 military aircraft, according to two Somali officials.

Egypt's second shipment of military aid to Somalia on Monday as part of a military accord has become another point of contention in the long-standing dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile.