Mogadishu is adamant that only the Somali government should decide who will be contributing troops in the AU-led peacekeeping mission slated to begin in January 2025.
In a statement released this week the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its intentions to exclude Ethiopia from involvement in the upcoming African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
“As we transition from ATMIS to the AUSSOM, Somalia will lead the mission’s direction with a clear focus on sovereignty. Ethiopia’s recent unilateral actions, including an illegal agreement with Somalia’s northern region, violate our sovereignty and erode the trust essential for peacekeeping,” reads the statement.
The Ministry’s stance undermines the roles of the AU and UN security councils, which are ultimately in charge of authorizing troop countries’ participation and securing financing for the mission.
Mogadishu also alleges the presence of Ethiopian troops within Somalia’s borders has encouraged Al-Shabaab to scale up its operations.
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“Past Ethiopian deployments have led to increased Al-Shabaab activity and little development. This demands a more strategic selection of troop partners to ensure AUSSOM aligns with Somalia’s security and development goals,” reads the statement.
Analysts say the complaints are little more than pretext to exclude Ethiopia from AUSSOM.
“As we prepare for the next phase of peacekeeping under the upcoming AUSSOM, it is essential to reiterate that Somalia, as a sovereign state, holds the authority to decide which Troop partner Nation (TPNs) will contribute troops to this mission. The decision on troop contributions must align with Somalia’s national interests and the preservation of its sovereignty,” reads the statement.
Experts warn the statement and ensuing tensions will cast a shadow on the possibility of a third round of Turkiye-mediated peace talks between the two Horn countries.
Mogadishu has previously asserted it would not allow Ethiopian troops to be part of AUSSOM unless Ethiopia retracts the memorandum of understanding it signed with Somaliland on access to the sea and the establishment of a naval base.
Turkiye, which signed a military-trade agreement with Somalia earlier this year, has been attempting to mediate between the two countries in a bid to ease tensions. Two rounds of talks have already taken place in Ankara. A third has been elusive in light of the escalating feud between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.
Ethiopia has put forward its bid for consideration on the list of AUSSOM troop-contributing countries. The federal government has repeatedly reiterated that Al-Shabaab remains a serious security concern for Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, the AU and UN convened for a critical meeting on October 25, 2024, to decide on the modality and financing of AUSSOM. The peace and security councils of the two organizations are slated to announce the AUSSOM troop contributing countries by mid-November.
Ethiopia has raised concerns that the AU is not sufficiently consulting with it regarding arrangements for AUSSOM. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud reportedly took part in a series of bilateral meetings to discuss troop contribution with Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya, and Uganda this month.
The meetings came following Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s discussions with defense ministers from AU troop-contributing countries on October 16 to discuss the peacekeeping transition.
Somalia has recently forged military alliances with Cairo and Asmara in a bid to offset what it sees as rising Ethiopian influence in the region.
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