MOGADISHU, Somalia – Ethiopian troops have reportedly taken full control of an airfield in Dollow town, Gedo region, under the orders of Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe, amid tensions over Somalia’s one-person, one-vote electoral system.
Dollow is now under Ethiopian military control, joining other airfields in the region, following a closed-door meeting between Ethiopian officials and President Madobe. While the reason for Saturday’s move remains unclear, Dollow is considered a strategic town located along Somalia’s border with Ethiopia.
Reliable sources suggest the move is politically motivated, as Madobe is in dispute with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud over his push for a direct electoral system in Somalia.
Madobe plans to hold an indirect leadership election for his state, a significant blow to Mohamud’s efforts to implement popular elections. Tensions escalated last month when Madobe walked out of election talks in Mogadishu, attended by the federal government and regional state leaders.
Ethiopia is reportedly backing Madobe after President Mohamud rejected its MoU with Somaliland to secure access to a 20-kilometer stretch of Red Sea coastline in exchange for recognizing Somaliland’s claim of independence.
Ethiopia has troops deployed under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). In addition, thousands of non-ATMIS Ethiopian soldiers are also stationed in towns like Dollow, Garbaharey, Luuq, and Bardere, where they are focused on Ethiopia’s own interests.
Viewing Somaliland as part of Somalia, President Mohamud condemned the deal as a violation of his country’s sovereignty and excluded Ethiopia from the list of troop-contributing countries for the new African Union mission in Somalia, set to begin in January.
President Mohamud also invited Egypt to join the new AU mission, a move that angered Ethiopia, which views Egypt as a regional adversary due to their ongoing dispute over the Nile waters. Ethiopia now has until December 31 to revoke its MoU with Somaliland, or it will face the removal of its troops from Somalia.
Egypt accepted the invitation and, by late August, sent a ship to Mogadishu loaded with weapons, armored vehicles, and other supplies. On top of that, Egypt plans to send at least 10,000 troops to Somalia, which has raised concerns in Ethiopia.
Egypt has thrown its support behind Somalia in the dispute with Ethiopia over the MoU with Somaliland, adding fuel to the already heated tensions between the two countries.
Ethiopia, meanwhile, has denied any connection to Somalia’s claims and rejected the allegations surrounding the MoU. While Somalia accuses Ethiopia of attempting to annex its territory, Ethiopia firmly denies it, leaving the territorial dispute unresolved.
Reported by Abdirisak Mohamud Tuuryare
