Somalia and Ethiopia to Renew Diplomatic Relations Following AU Mission Accord
Imagine the vibrant scene in Addis Ababa: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed warmly shaking hands with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the sun casts its golden light over the city. This meeting marks a significant turn in the diplomatic tango between Ethiopia and Somalia, offering a glimmer of restored unity. After months steeped in diplomatic drama, an avenue for collaborative futures is finally emerging.
The winds of change have brushed away those stormy clouds hanging over African Union’s mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The muddle around Ethiopia’s role in AUSSOM, once tangled like a ball of yarn, is being deftly unravelled. Somalia had initially flexed its muscles, threatening to boot Ethiopian troops from the peacekeeping mission, unless Ethiopia ditched its much-debated memorandum of understanding (MOU) with North Western State of Somalia.
This peculiar piece of diplomacy allowed Ethiopia to consider patrolling 20 kilometers (roughly 12 miles) of North Western State of Somalia’s Gulf of Aden coastline—imagine a splash of naval color against the stark desert hues—in exchange for pondering North Western State of Somalia’s independence with a more serious gaze. But now, the contentious MOU no longer stands in the way of Ethiopia’s peacekeeping participation, as confirmed by Somalia’s State Foreign Minister, Ali Omar Balcad.
Sifting through the current upheaval isn’t without its logistical challenges. There’s talk about troop distribution—like rearranging a jigsaw puzzle that’s long been gathering dust. “We’re dispatching a Somali delegation to Ethiopia on January 15 to hammer out the final details,” Balcad informed VOA with pinpoint precision.
The Charm Offensive of Diplomatic Reconciliation
Diplomacy never quite smelled so sweet. President Mohamud’s weekend trip to Ethiopian soil was not for naught; it set the path to stitch up the rift that the fractious MOU had torn apart. Beyond the somber conference tables, it seems the two leaders were able to rekindle the spirit of solidarity. “After hearty chats over coffee and consensus, President Mohamud and Prime Minister Abiy have decided—it’s time to mend fences,” Balcad quipped, his words echoing with an audible sigh of relief.
Finer diplomatic mechanics are also at play. Somalia’s ambassador to the African Union in Addis will now wear two hats, assuming duties as the ambassador to Ethiopia, while Ethiopia iwill repay this gesture tit for tat, dispatching fresh envoys to Somalia. Consulates in Hargeisa and Garowe that once seemed set for closure are now witnessing renovations, firm in the regional sightline.
It’s a classic tale of geopolitical squabbles where two parties opted to bury the hatchet rather than entrench further enmity. Both nations acknowledge that the backbone of regional peace relies not just on treaties, but trust sewn carefully like the finest tapestry.
Global mediation got a boost from Ankara’s corridors of power. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan acted like a skilled orchestra director, subtly harmonizing Mohamud and Ahmed during a vital meeting. Out of this, the Ankara Declaration was born—a testament to the pair’s promise to uphold sovereignty and territorial well-being.
The upcoming Ankara meeting is poised to stir the kettle further, with combustible topics like trade, port access, and maritime routes waiting to emerge from shadowed corners.
The Egyptian Puzzle
As these diplomatic blooms unfurl, Egypt enters stage left with a stern refusal to accept any outsider—a naval guest demanding a seat at the Red Sea table. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty made no bones about this during a stage-managed press conference, stepping up the geopolitical rhetoric over Ethiopia’s ambitions, echoing like a diplomat’s ultimatum.
“No room at our watery inn for landlocked state-led armies,” he declared, essentially pulling rank on security arrangements like a strict headmaster might.
Yet, Somalia’s interests in the Red Sea are as curved and winding as the iconic Bab-el-Mandeb strait itself. Despite sharing a coastline with the Gulf of Aden—a strategic seascape linking to the Red Sea—Somalia maintains its own diplomatic compass. “We tread carefully with Cairo and Addis Ababa, firmly believing diplomacy isn’t a zero-sum game,” Balcad reflected, a splash of wisdom underscoring his statement.
In the grandest theater of world affairs, this diplomatic dance offers a front-row seat to alliances and animosities, fraught with trial and triumph.
By blending warm reconciliations with cooler caution, Ethiopia and Somalia offer an insightful spectacle. Are we witnessing the dawn of a steadier peace, or merely a reprieve before the next diplomatic shuffle? Only time will spin that yarn.
Report By Axadle.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
