Somalia blames Ethiopia for resurgence of Al-Shabaab amid strained relations

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The government of Somalia has yet again taken a swipe against Ethiopia, blaming Addis Ababa for the resurgence of Al-Shabaab militants, who are causing havoc across the country, killing thousands of innocent civilians in the process.

Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the government of Somalia says it shall take charge of troops selection, adding that Ethiopian troops are not welcome in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Somalia will lead the mission's direction "with a clear focus on sovereignty." It accused Ethiopia of refusing to embrace Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Somalia said the agreement that Ethiopia reached with Somaliland violates Somalia's sovereignty. For continuity and success of the mission, the ministry adds, Ethiopia will not be allowed to take part.

"Ethiopia's recent unilateral actions including the recent agreement with Somalia’s northern state of Somaliland violate our sovereignty and erode the trust essential for peacekeeping," read the statement.

"Ethiopia's deployments have led to increased Al-Shabaab activities and little development. This demands for a more strategic selection of troop partners to ensure AUSSOM aligns with Somalia’s security and development goals."

The statement comes a few hours after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud completed his shuttle diplomatic mission that saw him visit Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, and Kenya, which are the main contributors of the troops serving in the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

Although there is no direct evidence linking Ethiopia with the Al-Shabaab resurgence, Somalia says Addis Ababa is largely to blame for deaths caused by the militants. Al-Shabaab controls large swathes of rural central and southern regions.

The new mission shall officially start its duties in January 2025 once the ATMIS mandate expires. Somalia is courting Egypt to take charge of AUSSOM, but Ethiopia has rejected the idea, maintaining that it has to defend Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE