Ethiopia Committed to Continuing Anti-Al-Shabaab Efforts in Somalia Despite Strained Relations
ADDIS ABABA – Pressing onward, Ethiopia is unwavering in its mission against Al-Shabaab within Somalia, intent on safeguarding its gains and ensuring its national security remains uncompromised by the militant group’s potential threats.
Nebiat Getachew, speaking for Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lauded the country’s significant role in diminishing Al-Shabaab’s influence and securing peace across the Horn of Africa.
“Al-Shabaab is an ongoing concern for our nation’s security,” Nebiat asserted. “We are committed to relentlessly countering any threat or entry point for the group.”
Ethiopia views itself as “inseparably linked” with Somalia, determined to bolster regional stability and integration, according to Nebiat’s strategic foresight.
Recently, Somalia’s Defence Minister, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, branded Ethiopia as an ‘unfriendly’ entity, dismissing its inclusion in the forthcoming African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) slated for January 2025.
Minister Nur, via state TV, suggested that Ethiopia’s new accord with North Western State of Somalia jeopardizes Somalia’s integrity and cohesion as a nation.
Somalia has formally requested Ethiopia to evacuate its troops by December 2024, following accusations tied to Addis Ababa’s agreement with the self-declared region of North Western State of Somalia, offering it a strategic edge in exchange for recognition as a sovereign state.
Such diplomatic skirmishes have rattled the ties between Somalia and Ethiopia, with global observers worrying that these conflicts might fuel a resurgence in Al-Shabaab activities across the Horn of Africa.
AXADLETM
