Ethiopia Warns Against New Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia

Ethiopia, on Wednesday, warned against transition to new peacekeeping mission in Somalia. The Ethiopian foreign ministry issued a statement in this regard.
“Ethiopia is concerned that the transition from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to a new peace support mission is fraught with dangers to the region. While the African Union and the United Nations are preparing for this transition, the region is entering into uncharted waters. Repeated calls by Ethiopia and other Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) have not been taken seriously,” the Ethiopian FM said.

Without pulling any punches, Ethiopian government announced to respond if its concerns are not addressed. ” Ethiopia is being expected to ignore hostile statements, and the continued attempt to undermine the sacrifices of Ethiopian defense forces. Ethiopia cannot stand idle while other actors are taking measures to destabilize the region. Ethiopia is vigilantly monitoring developments in the region that could threaten its national security,” the statement said.

Ethiopian troops part of existing peacekeeping mission in Somalia called ATMIS won’t be part of new mission due to begin in January 2025. Egyptian troops will take over. Egypt and Ethiopia have been involved in a protracted dispute over building of Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) by Ethiopia over River Nile. Egyptian military entry into Ethiopian neighborhood seems to be unacceptable to Ethiopia.

Somalia wants to kick out Ethiopian troops. Somalia Ethiopia tension rose earlier this year when landlocked Ethiopia signed an MoU with self declared and unrecognized country Somaliland. Somaliland is internationally recognized part of Somalia but it wants to be recognized as an independent country.

Ethiopian ministry directly accused the government of Somalia saying “Ethiopia has worked tirelessly for the peace and security of Somalia and the region, for shared growth, and has nurtured the close bonds between the peoples of the region. Ethiopia has also been engaged in facilitated discussions to resolve differences with the Government of Somalia. Tangible progress has been made in these talks. Instead of pursuing these efforts for peace, the Government of Somalia is colluding with external actors aiming to destabilize the region”.

“All those responsible for preparing and authorizing a new peace support mission must take into account the legitimate concerns of countries of the region and the TCCs. Forces trying to inflame tension for their short-term and futile objectives must shoulder the grave ramifications. Ethiopia cannot tolerate these actions that endanger the gains made against regional and international terrorist groups,” Ethiopia warned at the end of the statement.

Egyptian military presence in an Ethiopian neighboring country and full Ethiopian military withdrawal from Somalia seem to be unacceptable to Ethiopia. Ethiopian leaders say that their military presence in Somalia is for the sake of protection of Ethiopia and Somalia from Al Shabaab. But Somalia wants Ethiopia to withdraw from MoU with Somaliland. Since Ethiopia is not withdrawing from the MoU, Somalia is forming alliance other regional powers to push Ethiopian troops out of Somalia.

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