Mogadishu excludes Ethiopian troops from AU mission in Somalia amid diplomatic tensions

CAIRO – 9 November 2024: The Somali government has declared the exclusion of Ethiopian troops from the forthcoming African Union mission set to replace the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in January 2025, Somali news website Hiiran reported on Saturday.

The decision was confirmed by Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Jama in an interview with Somali national TV today. He stated that the exclusion stems from Ethiopia's perceived transgressions against Somalia's sovereignty.

Minister Jama emphasized during the televised interview on Saturday that Ethiopian forces would not be part of the new African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) due to Ethiopia's actions, which Somalia views as compromising its independence and territorial integrity.

This exclusion follows a series of escalating tensions triggered by Ethiopia's controversial Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland, inked in early 2024.

The agreement, which allows Ethiopia potential access to the sea in exchange for recognizing Somaliland, has been vehemently opposed by Somalia as an infringement on its sovereign rights.

Somali leaders have underscored that Ethiopian troops might only be considered for future AU missions if Addis Ababa revokes the contentious Somaliland deal.