Ethiopia Prepares for Post-ATMIS Mission in Somalia, Warns of 'External Actors' Destabilizing Horn of Africa

ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia says it's ready for a post-ATMIS mission in Somalia while accusing 'external actors' of infiltration in the region, a move that could potentially destabilize the Horn of Africa region which is facing multiple crises.

Tesfaye Yilma, the Ethiopian permanent representative to the United Nations accused "extra-regional actors that have no constructive role in the region" during the recent United Nations Security Council vote on transitioning from ATMIS to AUSSOM, calling such involvement a "reckless pursuit."

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) will complete its mandate in the next few days and is expected to transition to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), where Ethiopia wants its troops to still play a role.

“Ethiopia stands ready to continue its role in the post-ATMIS mission.” He added that the country looks forward to “working closely with the federal government of Somalia, which we trust will remain a committed partner in counter-terrorism efforts.”

“Countering terrorism and stabilizing Somalia is informed by a shared regional policy of interdependence that aims at ensuring collective peace and prosperity in the region," he said.

Somalia had shared frustrations with Troops Contributing Countries, accusing Ethiopia of a plot to forcibly annex its territory besides undermining sovereignty about Ethiopia's recent agreement with Somaliland.

Somalia had announced that Ethiopia “will not be part of the AU-led forces” replacing ATMIS following Ethiopia's signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland in January 2024. The situation intensified when Egypt sent military personnel and arms shipments to Mogadishu, prompting Ethiopia to warn that the transition from ATMIS was “fraught with dangers” for the region, Addis Standard reports.

Responding to Ethiopia’s statements, Mohamed Rabi Yusuf, Somalia’s permanent representative, said, “Due to documented actions of Ethiopia in Somalia, for the past 11 months, the federal government of Somalia has undertaken a comprehensive review of its security arrangements as we transition from ATMIS to the new mission AUSSOM.”

He further said, “Our regional partners from troop-contributing countries have shown remarkable solidarity, pledging to maintain our necessary force of 11,000 troops of AUSSOM.”

“This commitment,” Mohamed Rabi stated, “addresses any security vacuum created by Ethiopia while sustaining progress in the fight against Al-Shabaab in Somalia.”

GAROWE ONLINE