MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Omar, also known as Ali Bal’ad, has highlighted a persistent obstacle hindering Ethiopia’s participation in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission (AUSSOM), a newly established peacekeeping initiative that began operations this year, Caasimada Online news website reported on Tuesday.
“The primary obstacle to Ethiopia’s involvement in AUSSOM was the MoU [between Somaliland and Ethiopia], which has since been resolved,” Bal’ad said.
“The current challenge lies in the fact that the majority of troop quotas for contributing countries have already been allocated, leaving only a limited number of slots available. We are committed to working diligently to find a solution,” he added.
These remarks come in the wake of ongoing discussions between Ethiopia and Somalia regarding Ethiopia’s participation in AUSSOM. Despite these talks, no definitive resolution has yet been reached. Reports suggest that Mogadishu insists on relocating Ethiopian defense forces from areas along the border to other regions farther within the country, a strategy aimed at weakening Ethiopia-backed regional states and consolidating full control under federal authority.
Ethiopian officials have confirmed Mogadishu’s demand that Ethiopian forces would be prohibited from operating near the Somalia-Ethiopia border should they join AUSSOM. They further acknowledged the technical and logistical challenges such a relocation would entail, as well as other significant complexities.
This week, the two countries reached an agreement to restore full diplomatic representation in their respective capitals, with diplomats engaging in collaborative efforts to advance shared interests. This development builds upon the recent Ankara agreement, which ostensibly resolved a year-long dispute over a maritime access deal Ethiopia had signed with Somaliland, a self-declared independent region of Somalia that Mogadishu regards as an integral part of its sovereign territory.
In the coming days, Somali officials are expected to travel to Ethiopia to engage in further discussions with their Ethiopian counterparts concerning the remaining troop quotas for Ethiopia’s involvement in AUSSOM, as well as the technicalities surrounding their participation, ensuring alignment with Somalia’s national priorities.
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