Somalia and Ethiopia Strengthen Defense Partnership Through AU Initiative
FILE PHOTO
Mogadishu (AX) — In the intricate web of international relations, two neighboring nations, Ethiopia and Somalia, have taken a significant step forward, fostering their military collaboration within the framework of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
Imagine a vivid tapestry, each thread representing the nuanced, complex layers of diplomacy and defense strategy. Here, the threads intertwine to form a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), setting the stage for Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) to actively engage in Somali stabilization efforts. The context? A landscape shaped by high-level diplomatic parleys—February this year—featuring Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who deliberated in Ethiopia’s historic city of Addis Ababa. Their shared vision: to enhance military cooperation for a more secure future.
On an unassuming Saturday, Ethiopia’s Chief of Defense Staff, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, spearheaded a notable visit to Mogadishu. Accompanied by Ambassador Redwan Hussein of Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), Field Marshal Jula engaged in critical conversations with key Somali defense figures, including Maj. Gen. Odawa Yusuf Rage and Amb. Abdullahi Mohamed Ali, reflecting the visit’s strategic yet urgent tone. Have you ever wondered what such meetings feel like beneath the formality? An air of tense anticipation mixed with cooperative resolve might encapsulate the atmosphere—a microcosm of regional collaborations.
During these engagements, poignant discussions unfolded, addressing security threats that stretch beyond borders, particularly the persistent menace of al-Shabaab. The dialogue, deeply anchored in the reality of shared threats, once more surfacing questions: How can two nations best synergize their efforts to eradicate such dangers? Therein lies the essence of their collaboration, underscored by the continued presence of African Union troops since 2007 which, as both sides acknowledge, have been instrumental in keeping the insurgency at bay. AUSSOM’s expanding role under this new agreement epitomizes such collaborations’ essence, wherein the ENDF’s activities will now find synchronization under a unified mission mandate.
Yet, this agreement is not simply a military accord—it is, in essence, an emblematic reconciliation. Following a rupture in diplomatic ties sparked by Ethiopia’s venture for maritime access in North Western State of Somalia, peace was brokered under Turkey’s attentive gaze through what is now the Ankara Declaration. The pact—like many others—speaks of compromise without capitulation, providing Ethiopia avenues for maritime enterprise, albeit tethered to Somalia’s sovereign oversight.
However, what remains unresolved, casting a shadow over these diplomatic progresses, is Ethiopia’s entanglement with North Western State of Somalia. In January 2024, Ethiopia inked a deal with the self-announced independent region, granting it a slice of North Western State of Somalia’s coastline—a strategic linchpin for Ethiopian maritime ambitions. Controversial? For Somalia’s central government, absolutely. They viewed it as a sovereignty breach, sowing seeds of potential discord.
The ensuing months revealed a complex ballet of diplomatic maneuvers with Somalia alarmed yet cautiously optimistic about reconciliation prospects, while regional powers like Egypt watched from the periphery, contemplating their stakes in this geopolitical chessboard. Would investing in areas of shared stability lead to regional tranquility, or simply shift the contested lines? Only time will tell.
In closing, what unfolds between Ethiopia and Somalia is more than a tale of two nations—it’s a narrative infused with the universal quest for peace, prosperity, and sovereignty amidst the persistent backdrop of ancient and contemporary rivalries.
Edited By Ali Musa Axadle Times International–Monitoring
