By: Soyome Getachew
Claim: A Facebook post shared on September 1, 2025, with an image, claims: “Egypt has begun sending weapons to Asmara. Egypt is reportedly transporting weapons through Eritrea to attack Ethiopia.”
Verdict: The claim that Egypt is supplying weapons to Eritrea for use against Ethiopia is misleading and lacks credible evidence. Investigations into the allegation have found no verified sources or official confirmations to support the assertion. While regional tensions and geopolitical rivalries persist in the Horn of Africa, the specific claim regarding Egyptian arms transfers to Asmara appears to be speculative and unsupported by factual reporting.
Fact-check
On September 1, 2025, a Facebook group named ’’የዶ/ር አብይ አህመድ የሁልጊዜ ደጋፊዎች /Supporters of Dr. Abiy Ahmed’’, with 213.8K members shared an Amharic-language post featuring an image of cargo on a tarmac. The post claimed it showed Egyptian weapons arriving in Asmara, Eritrea, to be used against Ethiopia (See screenshot below).
MFC examined the image of cargo on a tarmac using reverse image search tools.
An investigation by MFC team has revealed that the claim is misleading. The image shared does not show weapons shipments. A reverse image search shows the same picture was published earlier, on August 29, 2025, by the page ERG Development with the caption “Extending the brotherly relations between the two countries, Egypt sends a shipment of medical supplies to Eritrea.” (See screenshot below).
Moreover, official reports from that date describe this exact shipment as humanitarian aid, not weapons. The Egyptian Agency for Partnership in Development (EAPD) announced the arrival of a shipment of medical supplies at Asmara International Airport on August 29. The aid, which included ophthalmology and kidney dialysis equipment, was provided to Eritrea’s Pharmaceutical Administration (See screenshot below).
Likewise, the Addis Standard news outlet also reported on this event on September 1, 2025 confirming the shipment was part of Egypt’s efforts to strengthen “strategic and sisterly relations” with Eritrea (See screenshot below).
Context
The geopolitical dynamics between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Eritrea are shaped by a history of strategic rivalry, regional alliances, and resource-based disputes, most notably the ongoing tensions surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Egypt views the dam as a potential threat to its vital Nile water supply, while Ethiopia asserts its sovereign right to harness the river for development. Eritrea, though not a direct party to the GERD negotiations, maintains a delicate position in the region, often navigating its relationships with both countries based on shifting political and security interests. These underlying frictions have fueled speculation and heightened sensitivity to claims of military cooperation or escalation.
Against this backdrop, allegations that Egypt is supplying weapons to Eritrea for use against Ethiopia have gained traction among some audiences. However, the specific claim lacks credible evidence and appears to stem from a misrepresented image depicting a verified medical aid delivery. While regional mistrust and strategic maneuvering are real, conflating humanitarian assistance with military intent distorts the facts and risks inflaming tensions without substantiation.
Conclusion
The claim that Egypt is supplying weapons to Eritrea for use against Ethiopia is based on a misidentified image. The Facebook post in question inaccurately portrays a documented shipment of Egyptian medical aid to Eritrea as a military arms delivery. This misrepresentation has contributed to the spread of misinformation, despite the absence of verified sources or official confirmation to support such an allegation.
While tensions among Egypt, Eritrea, and Ethiopia remain a feature of the region’s complex geopolitical landscape, particularly in light of disputes over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, there is no credible evidence linking Egypt to an arms transfer intended for aggression against Ethiopia. Assertions of this nature risk inflaming regional sensitivities and should be approached with caution and a commitment to factual accuracy.
