MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia has declared that it will select troop contributing countries for the new African Union stabilization mission, known as AUSSOM. In a statement released on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Somalia will lead the mission with a firm dedication to upholding its sovereignty.
The ministry said Ethiopia’s recent unilateral actions, including a controversial ‘sea-access-for-recognition’ Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, violate Somalia’s sovereignty and undermine the trust necessary for effective peacekeeping.
In the statement, the ministry emphasized that previous Ethiopian troop deployments in Somalia have fueled Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked group’s campaign to recruit fighters. To avoid similar mistakes, Somalia has developed a more strategic selection of troop partners to ensure that AUSSOM effectively supports its security and development objectives.
As a sovereign state, Somalia reiterated its authority to decide which Troop Partner Nations (TPNs) will contribute troops to the mission, as preparations for the next phase of peacekeeping under the new AU mission are underway, according to the statement released by Mareeg Online.
“We remain dedicated to collaborating with the African Union, United Nations, and European Union on AUSSOM, with Somalia taking the lead in selecting partners who respect our sovereignty. Somalia will not compromise on decisions that impact its future and security.”
This follows President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s recent tour of troop-contributing countries—Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, and Djibouti—preparing for the new peacekeeping mission set to replace the current African Union Transition Mission in Somalia next year.
President Mohamud did not visit Ethiopia, a neighboring nation with troops serving under ATMIS, during his week-long tour of troop-contributing countries. This was due to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s reluctance to revoke his controversial MoU with Somaliland.
Ethiopia is facing a challenging situation, with a December 31 deadline from Somalia to revoke its MoU with Somaliland. Failure to meet this deadline could result in troop withdrawal.
Earlier this year, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed the MoU with Somaliland to secure sea access, prompting anger from Somalia. In retaliation, Somalia invited Egypt to join the new AU mission and called for the removal of all Ethiopian troops. Somalia has also been urging Egypt to fill any gaps left by the departing forces.
Egypt accepted the invitation and has begun military buildup in Somalia, raising security concerns for Ethiopia amid ongoing disputes over Nile water, further escalating tensions in the Horn of Africa.
In late August, Egypt initiated the delivery of military supplies to Somalia, sending convoys of weapons to military bases in Mogadishu. Additionally, Egypt plans to deploy at least 10,000 troops to Somalia, alarming Ethiopia, which views Egypt as a longstanding regional rival.
Egypt also aligned with Somalia in its diplomatic dispute with Ethiopia over the controversial MoU with Somaliland. This deal grants Ethiopia access to a 20-kilometer stretch of Red Sea coastline in exchange for potential recognition of Somaliland as independent, heightening tensions between the neighboring nations.
Somalia views the MoU, signed in January, as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, resulting in a diplomatic rift that includes the expulsion of the Ethiopian ambassador from Mogadishu and threats to withdraw Ethiopian troops from Somalia.
Ethiopia has firmly denied any links to Somalia’s allegations and rejected claims regarding the MoU signed with Somaliland. This situation carries significant implications for regional stability, as Somalia accuses Ethiopia of attempting annexation, while Ethiopia denies the allegation, leading to ongoing territorial conflicts between the two countries.
