Ethiopia to Persist in Anti-Al-Shabaab Fight In Somalia Despite Tensions

ADDIS ABABA - The government of Ethiopia says it shall continue fighting Al-Shabaab in Somalia, arguing that it shall protect the victories achieved so far, with the main target being protecting its security from possible infringement by the militant group.

Nebiat Getachew, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the country has played a pivotal role in reducing Al-Shabaab threats and consequently securing the Horn of Africa region.

“Al-Shabaab remains a concern for our national security, and efforts to counter it will continue in all circumstances to prevent it from becoming a threat or allowing any footholds to resurface,” the spokesperson emphasized.

According to Nebiat, Ethiopia and Somalia are “inseparable” neighbors, Ethiopia will continue implementing its strategic vision in a way that “strengthens regional integration in the long run.”

A few days ago, Somalia’s Defence Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur declared Ethiopia a 'hostile' country and ruled out its participation in the upcoming African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) which is set to begin in January 2025.

In remarks broadcast on state television, Minister Nur contended that Ethiopia’s recent agreement with Somaliland compromises Somalia’s “sovereignty and national unity.”

The Somalia government asked Ethiopia to withdraw its troops from the country by December 2024 after accusing it of infringement of its territorial integrity and sovereignty following an agreement signed between Addis Ababa and the breakaway region of Somaliland that grants it 20 kilometers of access to the Red Sea in exchange for recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state.

The tussle has ignited diplomatic fallout between Somalia and Ethiopia, with the international community expressing concerns that the differences could trigger the surge of Al-Shabaab militants within the Horn of Africa region.

GAROWE ONLINE