ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has agreed to Somalia’s request to exclude Ethiopia from the list of countries contributing troops to the upcoming peacekeeping mission.
This decision comes as the African Union-led ATMIS mission is set to end by December 31. The new mission will focus on supporting Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, while ensuring full respect for the country’s legal framework.
Only Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, and Burundi will contribute troops to the new mission, which is set to begin in January next year, as Ethiopia was excluded due to its controversial maritime deal with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia.
Viewing Somaliland as part of its territory, Somalia condemned Ethiopia’s deal as a violation of its sovereignty. In response, Somalia excluded Ethiopia from the list of troop-contributing countries and called for the removal of all Ethiopian troops from Somalia.
The African Union also urged its commission to consult with member states to ensure that the troops deployed align with Somalia’s national interests.
The commission called on member states to continue supporting Somalia’s peace process and stabilization efforts, particularly in light of the ongoing diplomatic tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia.
It is unclear whether Egypt is among the countries joining the new mission, as demanded by Somalia last month. Somalia also wants Egyptian troops to fill any gaps left by the departing troops.
Tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia emerged when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed a memorandum of Understanding [MoU] with Somaliland to secure access to a 20-kilometer stretch of Red Sea coastline in exchange for recognizing Somaliland’s push for independence.
In retaliation to PM Ahmed’s MoU, President Mohamud flew to Cairo, signed a military pact with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fatah Al Sisi, and invited his country to join the new AU mission, a move that angered Ethiopia, which sees Egypt as a regional rival due to their ongoing dispute over the Nile waters.
President Al Sisi accepted the invitation and, by late August, sent a ship with weapons, armored vehicles, and other supplies to Mogadishu. Al Sisi also supported Somalia in its dispute with Ethiopia over the MoU with Somaliland. He plans to send at least 10,000 troops to Somalia, which has raised concerns in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia, for its part, has denied any connection to Somalia’s claims and rejected the accusations surrounding the MoU. While Somalia accuses Ethiopia of trying to annex its territory, Ethiopia firmly denies this, leaving the dispute unresolved.
