AU troops warned against infringement of Somalia’s sovereignty

ADDIS ABABA - Troops serving under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) have been warned against violation of Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, with the country's representative to the United Nations maintaining they have to operate within the legal framework.

Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman said the African Union troops ought to respect international law and strictly conform themselves to the acceptable regulations that do not infringe the country's sovereignty as enshrined in the law.

While addressing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Abukar maintained that destabilization of Somalia will not be tolerated adding that the foreign troops must align with regional frameworks as provided in their mission jurisdiction.

Failure to respect the country's sovereignty, he said, will be treated as aggression and a potential threat to stability. Adequate funding, he said, would help the peacekeeping troops to sustain legitimate operations within the country.

His sentiments come amid increasing pressure from Ethiopia, which is accused of annexation plans having signed an agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, which if implemented, would give it 20 kilometers of access to the Red Sea.

In return, the agreement states, that Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state, a move which further angers Somalia. Already, there are reports of Ethiopian troops seizing various airports within Somalia in the Gedo region.

Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, and Djibouti contributed troops to the peacekeeping mission in Somalia but the tenure of ATMIS is set to expire in January 2025. Due to ongoing conflict, Somalia has ruled out the participation of the new mission by Ethiopia..

The new mission is dubbed the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and Somalia has proposed Egypt as the team leader. Egypt is also having underlying issues with Ethiopia, revolving around the construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam and the utilization of the Nile River water.

GAROWE ONLINE