Somalia Reintegrates Ethiopia into New AU Mission in Diplomatic Shift

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia allocated all slots meant for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) which replaces the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) whose mandate expires in December 2024, diplomatic sources told the Voice of America, just days before full transition is actualized.

The United Nations Security Council had sanctioned the reduction of troops serving in Somalia, with the new mission only set to integrate the Somali National Army (SNA) into critical security responsibilities before they handed over in the long run.

But even before the full withdrawal of the ATMIS component, Somalia had reportedly secured and allocated all troops needed for the upcoming AUSSOM mission from Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, and Kenya, omitting Ethiopia which is one of the ATMIS critical components.

Ethiopia had been at loggerheads with Somalia at the time this arrangement was being put in place after it had signed a controversial agreement with Somaliland over access to the Red Sea in exchange for the recognition of the breakaway region as a sovereign state. This triggered the standoff.

However, the standoff was amicably solved last week by Turkey when the two countries agreed to respect each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Ethiopia will now pursue the deal directly with Somalia which could commercialise the quest.

The Somali government diplomatic source says in light of the Ankara Declaration, Somalia is “open to exploring” a potential role for the Ethiopian troops to play. This means Somalia could go for Ethiopia as an additional troops-contributing nation and possibly drop Egypt which was meant to oversee the new mission.

Multiple sources had hinted to Garowe Online that in a significant policy shift, the Somali federal government had opted to reintegrate Ethiopian troops into the forthcoming African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

This reversal follows commendations from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for Ethiopia's stabilizing efforts in Somalia. The policy change marks the resolution of a year-long diplomatic tension, initiated by Ethiopia's contentious agreement with Somaliland to potentially set up a naval base in return for acknowledging Somaliland's independence, an arrangement Somalia considered an affront to its territorial integrity.

It is not clear how long it would take to have the Ethiopian troops on board after the omission. This comes amid ongoing wrangles between Somalia and some federal states where the African Union troops are serving, leading to a negative impact on transition.

For instance, sources say Somalia has withheld money meant for Jubaland state after the national troops clashed with the Jubaland regional forces, leading to their immense loss at Raskamboni. Khat flights to Kismayo have also been halted leading to a consequential economic blockade.

The measures have triggered a surge in food prices and inflation, crippling the day-to-day operations of the regional government and hindering its ability to cover running costs, though it remains uncertain whether they will compel Ahmed Madobe to concede to federal government demands and resign.

Ethiopia has thousands of troops serving in Gedo region and parts of Southwest state and their exit had been opposed by the regional administration of Southwest and lately, Jubaland. Somalia is running out of time to solve internal wrangles and tame the Al-Shabaab insurgency.

GAROWE ONLINE