Somalia steps up move to kick out Ethiopia military presence
Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud speaks during a past interview inside his office at the presidential palace in Mogadishu, Somalia on May 28, 2022.
What you need to know:
- A statement from Somalia’s Foreign Affairs ministry confirmed the stance, suggesting Ethiopian troops should not be part of the next batch of the African Union Stabilization mission.
Somalia is keen to remove Ethiopian troops on a peace keeping mission in the country in a move it says will “protect her sovereignty and ensure peace”.
A statement from Somalia’s Foreign Affairs ministry confirmed the stance, suggesting Ethiopian troops should not be part of the next batch of the African Union Stabilization mission.
“As we prepare for the next phase of the peacekeeping under the upcoming African Union Stabilization mission in Somalia, (AUSSOM) it is essential to reiterate that Somalia as a sovereign state, holds the authority to determine which Troop Partner Nation (TPN) will contribute troops to its mission,” the statement read in part.
The statement further reiterated Somalia’s concerns over the move by Ethiopia to secure a maritime deal with neighbouring Somaliland.
“Ethiopia’s recent unilateral actions, including a recent agreement with Somalia’s northern region violate our sovereignty and erode the trust essential for peacekeeping.”
Somalia has consistently expressed her reservations in public over a deal by Somaliland to lease part of its coastline to land-locked Ethiopia.
The deal was described by Somalia as an “act of aggression” as it considers Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia in 1991, as part of its territory.
Somalia also shared concerns that Ethiopia intends to recognise Somaliland as a sovereign nation as part of the deal. Addis Ababa will also hand Somaliland a share of Ethiopia Airlines, Africa’s most profitable airline, as part of the deal.
Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has insisted the controversial deal was done in good faith, and opened the doors to a diplomatic solution which has so far been brokered by Kenya and Turkey.
Somalia, despite having one of Africa’s largest coastline, has endured decades of turmoil mainly caused by the presence of terror group Al Shabaab which has killed hundreds, destroyed property, controlled regions of the country, thus creating fear and a stain to the country’s economic outlook.
Amid the Somalia, Ethiopia tensions, Mogadishu has invited Egypt to set up a military nation in the country, with Cairo sending weapons, trainers and counter-terrorism troops to the Somalia capital.
