Somalia Blocks Ethiopia from Joining New AU Mission, Citing Sovereignty Issues
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s Defense Ministry declared on Friday that Ethiopia will be excluded from the upcoming African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), expected to begin in January 2025.
This edict comes amid a pivotal moment in the Horn of Africa, which grapples with the persistent menace of Al-Shabaab. Somalia contends that Ethiopia has overstepped its boundaries, encroaching on Somali sovereignty after Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed inked a deal for Red Sea access with North Western State of Somalia leader Muse Bihi Abdi back in January.
As the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) prepares to wind down by the close of December 2024, AUSSOM endeavors to bolster Somali forces in taking the reins of security duties. Ethiopia’s exclusion from AUSSOM underscores the simmering discord between Somalia and Ethiopia, especially after Ethiopia’s debatable arrangement with North Western State of Somalia, seen by Somalia as a breach of national unity, thus stirring diplomatic winds.
Naysayers of Ethiopia’s omission express worries that this decision might disrupt regional security efforts, particularly when Somalia still battles threats from militant groups like al-Shabaab and ISIS affiliates nesting in the country’s northeast.
Nonetheless, Somalia stands firm on safeguarding its sovereignty. Official communiqués stress that Ethiopia will not have military boots on Somali soil under any AU banner once ATMIS wraps up. The region’s unease deepened after Egypt penned a defense pact with Somalia last August, delivering arms to Mogadishu.
Fueling concerns, Egypt’s ongoing spat with Ethiopia over the Nile dam has led to fears of Somalia becoming a battlefield. Cairo aims to dispatch forces to areas where Ethiopian troops wield significant influence, particularly around disputed border zones.
In light of these developments, the Somali leadership is engaging with other African Union nations, such as Egypt and Djibouti, to guarantee that the new mission proceeds smoothly in the absence of Ethiopia. This transformation in military alliances in the Horn of Africa might yield wider consequences for regional peace and the enduring struggle against insurgency threats.
AXADLETM
