Tuesday July 23, 2024
FILE - Ethiopian troops operating in Somalia's Hiiraan region, displaying the Ethiopian flag on military vehicles.
Beledweyne (HOL) — Hundreds of Ethiopian troops have crossed the border shared by Ethiopia and Somalia's Hiiraan region for the second time in the last month.
The heavily armed troops, accompanied by several military vehicles, crossed into the Feerfeer district of Hiiraan early Tuesday morning. They have spread out to various areas, including Jawil, Beergadid, Oomad and Qabno, located between Matabaan and Beledweyne.
The exact purpose of these troops entering Hiiraan remains shrouded in mystery, as no official statement has been released. This marks the second time within a month that Ethiopian forces have entered the region. Confidential sources suggest that these troops might be tasked with escorting Ethiopian forces stationed in Hiiraan as part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
Residents in the affected areas have expressed significant concern and anxiety over the number of soldiers and military vehicles present. Their worry is palpable, especially in the absence of any official statement from the Federal Government of Somalia or the Hiiraan regional administration regarding these large numbers of troops, which are not believed to be part of the ATMIS operation, entering the Hiiraan region for the second time in approximately 30 days.
Somalia expects all Ethiopian troops to leave the country by the end of 2024, coinciding with the expiration of the ATMIS mandate. Somali National Security Adviser Hussein Sheikh-Ali emphasized that Ethiopian troops would not be part of the new African Union forces planned to secure key installations in Somalia starting in January 2025. This decision follows the controversial January 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ethiopia and Somaliland, which grants Ethiopia leasing rights to the Red Sea coastline in exchange for recognizing Somaliland's independence. Somalia has vehemently rejected this MoU, viewing it as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
In addition to the troop movements, thousands of Somaliland soldiers have recently entered Ethiopia for military training. This development is part of the defence agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland, aimed at strengthening military cooperation following the MoU. The presence of these soldiers has further strained relations between Ethiopia and Somalia, with Somalia accusing Ethiopia of undermining its sovereignty.
Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed Somalia's accusations of unauthorized border crossings as "baseless," asserting that all troop movements are part of regular training and operational activities under ATMIS and bilateral agreements. Somalia, however, has formally filed allegations with the United Nations, claiming that Ethiopian troops not part of the African Union mission have crossed into Somali territory.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since the MoU with Somaliland, leading to diplomatic tensions and accusations of provocation. Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been actively seeking political and military assurances against Ethiopia in response to the perceived threat to Somalia's territorial integrity.
The presence of Ethiopian troops in Somalia, particularly in the Hiiraan, Southwest, and Jubaland states, has been crucial in countering the threat posed by al-Shabab militants in the past. The potential withdrawal or reconfiguration of these forces could create security vacuums that insurgents might exploit. Somali regional officials have expressed concerns about the impact of Ethiopian troops' absence, fearing it could benefit al-Shabab.
Somalia's allies, including Egypt, Djibouti, Eritrea, Turkey, the UN, the EU, and the Arab League, support Somalia's stance on maintaining its territorial integrity. The African Union faces the challenge of mediating between its member states to address post-ATMIS security arrangements, ensuring stability in the region.