Somalia Sets Deadline for Ethiopian Troops Withdrawal

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia has announced a significant development in its military and diplomatic relations with Ethiopia, signaling a major shift in the region's security dynamics.

The Somali government has set a deadline for the complete withdrawal of all Ethiopian troops from its territory by the end of December 2024. This decision comes amid ongoing tensions between the two nations over Addis Ababa's port and naval base Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, Somalia's breakaway region.

Somalia's National Security Advisor, Hussein Moalim, confirmed the deadline, highlighting the government's determination to see all Ethiopian troops stationed in the country leave by the end of this year. The announcement was made public through various media outlets and social media platforms, reflecting the government's commitment to this new policy direction.

The move to expel Ethiopian troops is a significant step in Somalia's efforts to assert its sovereignty and control over its internal security matters. This decision follows a period of strained relations between Somalia and Ethiopia, particularly after Addis Ababa signed a controversial MoU with Somaliland, a move that Somalia vehemently opposed.

The MoU, which was signed in January 2024, allowed Ethiopia to develop a naval base on Somaliland's coast, a move that rattled the Horn of Africa and raised concerns about regional stability. Somalia saw this as a direct threat to its territorial integrity and responded by ordering Ethiopia's ambassador to leave the country within 72 hours.

The withdrawal of Ethiopian troops is expected to have significant implications for the security situation in Somalia. Ethiopian forces have been part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), a peacekeeping operation aimed at stabilizing the country and combating the threat of al-Shabaab. The withdrawal could potentially create a security vacuum, raising concerns about the resurgence of al-Shabaab and other insurgent groups.

In response to these concerns, Somalia has requested a new post-ATMIS mission to act as a post-transition protection force for the local and international communities in the country. The proposal for this new mission is expected to be presented to the UN Security Council at the end of March 2024.

As the deadline for the Ethiopian troops' withdrawal approaches, all eyes will be on Somalia and Ethiopia to see how this development will impact the broader security and political dynamics in the Horn of Africa.

GAROWE ONLINE