MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia has pointed fingers at Ethiopia, holding it accountable for the revival of Al-Shabaab militants wreaking chaos and claiming countless lives nationwide.
Somalia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has declared its intention to oversee the selection of troop contributions, blocking Ethiopian forces from participating in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), ‘We aim to steer our mission, prioritizing sovereignty,’ a spokesperson noted.
The Ministry accused Ethiopia of undermining Somalia’s sovereignty by engaging North Western State of Somalia, insisting this undermines trust and hamstrings peacekeeping. “Ethiopia’s solo maneuvers, like dealing with North Western State of Somalia, trample on our sovereignty,” the statement emphasized. Ethiopia’s involvement is alleged to have exacerbated Al-Shabaab’s activity and stalled growth, pressing Somalia to seek allies who resonate with its aspirations for safety and progress.
Fresh off a whirlwind diplomatic tour to Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, and Kenya, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud seeks consensus in leading the mission.
No concrete proof ties Ethiopia directly to the Al-Shabaab uptick, albeit Somalia holds Addis Ababa accountable for the violence. Al-Shabaab still roams freely across central and southern rural areas.
Anticipated to kick into gear in January 2025, AUSSOM will take over from the outgoing ATMIS. Somalia is wooing Egypt to spearhead AUSSOM, a move Ethiopia contests, claiming it must safeguard Somalia.
AXADLETM
