MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia has formally granted Ethiopia a role in the African Union’s newly established peacekeeping mission in the country, abrogating a year-long commitment by its leadership, which had fervently asserted that Ethiopian forces would vacate Somali territory by December 31 of last year.
The decision has sparked a strong backlash against the authorities, with many accusing them of national treason for having assured the Somali public that no Ethiopian soldiers would remain in the country, only to allow their continued presence beyond the deadline and grant them a renewed mandate under the African Union’s peacekeeping mission, AUSSOM, which became operational last week.
Among those disillusioned by the move is Abdirashid Hashi, the former director of the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies and a key supporter of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who now expresses disappointment over the government’s abrupt reversal of its year-long, repeatedly stated promise.
“For an entire year, and on a daily basis, our leaders warned us about the clear and present and pervasive dangers Abiy and co pose. And now, they are acting as though we are one big happy family. What a tragedy and travesty,” Hashi says in a statement on X.
“There are 500 years of documented, verifiable, and lived experiences of continuous Ethiopian aggression, invasions, destabilization, sabotage, subversion, and treachery,” he adds.
Although many understand Somalia and Ethiopia’s centuries-long conflict, as Hashi mentioned, numerous analysts argue that it was predictable Ethiopian troops would not depart so easily, given that the government in Mogadishu cannot secure the country or maintain power without the support of Ethiopian forces, who were instrumental in establishing the current Western-backed administration in Mogadishu and in ousting the Islamic Courts Union in 2006.
“Somalia cannot effectively secure itself at this moment. Ethiopian troops provide safety and security to many cities and villages in Somalia’s periphery – in South West State, in Jubaland, in Hiiraan,” said Rashid Abdi, a Horn of Africa security analyst with Sahan Research.
“One day will come when Ethiopia’s services will not be needed. But that time is not now,” he added.
For decades, Somalis have opposed the presence of Ethiopian troops, viewing it as a destabilizing force that exacerbates the ongoing conflict; however, Somali authorities contend that their reversal stems from the recent Ankara agreement between the two countries to normalize relations, asserting that diplomacy leaves no room for “rejection,” thereby necessitating the acceptance of continued Ethiopian military presence in Somalia.
Mogadishu and Addis Ababa have officially agreed to respect each other’s sovereignty, thereby resolving the dispute over a deal Ethiopia signed last year with the break-away region of Somaliland, which granted it leased access to land along the Red Sea for a naval base.
In a recent meeting in Mogadishu between Somali and Ethiopian officials, Somali authorities reportedly proposed that Ethiopian troops cease operations near their border, a strategic maneuver by Mogadishu to extend its influence over regions supported by Addis Ababa, including Jubaland and Southwest states, to which Addis Ababa reportedly responded with a shake of rejection.
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