Sunday February 23, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — Ethiopia and Somalia have formalized an agreement to deploy Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
The deal, outlined in a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), is set to regulate the operational mandate of Ethiopian troops in Somalia. The move follows diplomatic negotiations between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Addis Ababa from February 14 to 16, where both sides pledged to reinforce military collaboration.
On Saturday, Ethiopia's Chief of Defense Staff, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, led a high-level delegation to Mogadishu for a one-day working visit. Ambassador Redwan Hussein, head of Ethiopia's National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), was among the delegates, signalling the visit's importance. They were received by Somalia's Chief of Defense Forces, Maj. Gen. Odawa Yusuf Rage and National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Director Amb. Abdullahi Mohamed Ali.
The discussions centred on regional security threats, counterterrorism initiatives, and the broader stability of the Horn of Africa. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to combating al-Shabaab militants and acknowledged the role of African Union peacekeeping missions in Somalia since 2007.
The agreement cements Ethiopia's role within AUSSOM, ensuring its military presence aligns with the mission's mandate. The SOFA is expected to be a cornerstone of the broader Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation, initially signed in December 2023.
While Ethiopia's military footprint in Somalia has been a long-standing reality, this agreement signals a more formalized and structured engagement. Both sides emphasized that Somalia's federal government would be the sole authority overseeing security arrangements with foreign forces, a notable commitment given past tensions over Ethiopia's unilateral military actions in the region.
The defence chiefs also urged the international community to bolster support for Somali security forces to ensure a seamless transition once AUSSOM concludes its mandate. Intelligence sharing, joint counterterrorism operations, and military capacity-building will be the core of their continued cooperation.
The deal comes after Ethiopia and Somalia agreed to restore diplomatic relations following a year-long rift sparked by Ethiopia's maritime access agreement with Somaliland. This reconciliation was formalized through the Ankara Declaration mediated by Turkey.
In January 2024, Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, a self-declared independent region of Somalia. The agreement granted Ethiopia a 20-kilometre stretch of Somaliland's coastline near the port city of Berbera to develop naval and commercial facilities. In exchange, Ethiopia pledged to recognize Somaliland's independence. Somalia's federal government perceived this move as a violation of its sovereignty, leading to heightened diplomatic tensions and threats to expel Ethiopian troops participating in the African Union peacekeeping mission.
Turkey intervened to mediate the dispute. On December 12, 2024, Ethiopian and Somali leaders met in Ankara and signed the Ankara Declaration, committing to peaceful negotiations and collaboration for mutual prosperity. The declaration emphasized respect for Somalia's territorial integrity while addressing Ethiopia's aspirations for commercial maritime access.
Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, challenges remain. Ethiopia has not formally rescinded the MoU with Somaliland, causing alarm among Somali officials who view the agreement as a threat to national sovereignty. External actors such as Egypt have also shown interest in the region, further complicating the regional geopolitical landscape.