Ethiopian troops have consolidated full control of airports and airstrips located in some bordering zones of Somalia. According to several Somali sources, new movement of Ethiopian military has been seen in several zones of Somalia on Somalia-Ethiopia border.
Reportedly, Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) has deployed more troops at Luuq, Dolow, Gabaharey and Bardhere airstrips in Gedo zone of Somalia. Ethiopian troops are deployed in Gedo, Bay, Bakol and Hirraan zones on Somalia Ethiopia border.
Ethiopian troops are deployed in Somalia as part of ATMIS (African Union Transition Mission in Somalia) and under bilateral arrangement on government level. The mandate of ATMIS is set to expire at the end of this year. Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Djibouti are contributors to ATMIS forces. In January 2025, new peacekeeping mission AUSSOM (African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia) will take over. It is being said that Egypt will be main contributor to AUSSOM.
Ethiopian military mobilization on Somalia border is linked to likely Egyptian military deployment in Somalia-Ethiopia border areas. Ethiopia and Egypt have been locked in a dispute over Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) for almost a decade. Egyptian military deployment in Somalia has created shockwaves in Ethiopia.
Additional deployment of ENDF troops at airstrips in Somalia’s border states is being seen as an attempt by Ethiopia to stop the airlifting of Egyptian troops in the area. Somalia has not officially confirmed the arrival of Egyptian military so far. But Somalia’s state minister for foreign affairs this week confirmed the reception of ammunition and weapons from Egypt.
Ethiopia Somalia tensions began earlier this year when Ethiopia signed a controversial Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland to gain access to sea through Somaliland in return of recognizing Somaliland as a country. Somalia calls this MoU a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity as Somaliland is internationally recognized part of Somalia. Somalia has signed two defense deals with Turkey and Egypt in recent months to stop Ethiopia and Somaliland from implementing the MoU.
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