Somalia and Ethiopia Hail New Military Pact, Signaling Thaw in Relations

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia and Ethiopia have welcomed a recent military deal between the Somali National Army (SNA) and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), which paved the way for a new collaboration based on mutual respect and strict adherence and respect to each country's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

General Odowaa Yusuf Rage of the SNA and Field Marshal Birhanu Jula met a few days before President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud hosted Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Mogadishu, where the deal was approved by both parties.

In a joint communique released after Abiy's trip to Mogadishu, the two countries called the deal between the commanders a 'critical step' toward 'enhancing security cooperation' and fostering regional stability.

The visit, the two leaders admitted, reinforces the “normalization of bilateral relations” after months of engagements. They emphasized their “deep historical ties” and the importance of “building trust” through “stronger diplomatic, economic, and social cooperation.”

Ethiopia and Somalia have renewed their engagement after a year of diplomatic fallout triggered by the former's decision to sign an agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, which would have given Ethiopia 20 kilometers of access to the Red Sea in exchange for international recognition.

As part of her retaliation strategy, Somalia signed a military pact with Egypt, a traditional rival of Ethiopia besides ruling out participation of the ENDF in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

Somalia has since reached an agreement with Ethiopia over the participation of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces in the AUSSOM mission which started in January. The two countries also embraced technical teams to find the best way Ethiopia can access the sea without compromising Somalia’s sovereignty.

President Mohamud’s visit to Ethiopia in January marked a turning point, with both sides agreeing to “full diplomatic representation” and expanded economic and security collaboration. Turkey played a key role in the mediation process.

The AUSSOM troops selected from Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Egypt, and Uganda total to 11,900. However, Burundi has threatened to withdraw its contingent after it failed to agree on the exact numbers with Somalia, with Bujumbura pushing for an extra 1,000 soldiers.

GAROWE ONLINE