MOGADISHU, Somalia — Ethiopian military officials, arriving in four planes, reportedly landed on Saturday in Kismayo, a port city about 500 kilometers south of the capital, Mogadishu.
This comes amid rising political tensions between Jubaland state and the federal government of Somalia (FGS) over the violation of the country’s new unified electoral system.
Upon arrival, President Ahmed Madobe engaged in discussions on several critical issues, including ways to strengthen bilateral relations, enhance security measures, and foster deeper cooperation.
Reliable sources suggest that Madobe is seeking Ethiopia’s support to defend his position after the FGS rejected his recent presidential re-election and demanded his arrest for violating the election system.
Madobe also sent a delegation, led by the region’s vice president, Mohamud Sayid Aden, to Addis Ababa for further talks aimed at strengthening relations and cooperation.
The sources noted that Madobe’s move to bring Ethiopia closer is retaliation against the FGS for deploying hundreds of military personnel to Raskamboni, a town about 274 km from Kismayo, in an effort to capture him.
Now, Madobe and Ethiopia find themselves aligned in opposition to the Somali government. He seeks Ethiopia’s support to solidify his position, while Ethiopia, in turn, sees him as a valuable ally to advance its own regional goals, particularly amid its strained relations with Somalia.
Saturday’s visit also comes a day after Somalia accused Ethiopia of interfering in its internal affairs and fueling tribal conflict among communities in Gedo, a region that falls under Madobe’s jurisdiction.
Regional analysts say Ethiopia’s support for Madobe could worsen tensions with Somalia, with the December 31 deadline for Ethiopian troops to withdraw. Somalia has warned that if the troops are not withdrawn by then, they will be seen as occupying forces.
Ethiopia already lost its position as a troop-contributing country for the new African Union mission in Somalia, set to begin in January next year, due to its refusal to revoke the controversial MoU on Red Sea access with the breakaway region.
Despite demands for an urgent troop withdrawal, Ethiopia has deployed additional soldiers, tanks, and armored vehicles to Dollow town in Somalia’s Gedo region.
Ethiopia seems determined to maintain its military presence in Somalia as Egypt, a regional rival over the Nile waters, prepares to send troops for the new AU mission in Somalia.
Ethiopia also justifies its actions by citing the need to secure its borders from Al Shabab, the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group. How Somalia will respond to Ethiopia’s defiance remains unclear.
