(02-06-24) BAIDOA (Halqabsi News) – The Southwest State administration has publicly rejected the Somali federal government’s plan to withdraw Ethiopian troops from the country by the end of 2024. The state’s Ministry of Security dismissed a statement by National Security Advisor Hussein Sheikh Ali announcing the withdrawal as “misleading.”
The Ministry acknowledged the role of Ethiopian forces in the transition from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), a multinational peacekeeping mission. However, it emphasized the importance of these troops in maintaining security and combating al-Shabaab, expressing strong opposition to their complete withdrawal.
This disagreement exacerbates existing tensions between the Southwest State and the federal government, particularly regarding the Ethiopian troops currently stationed in the Bay and Bakool regions. These forces consist of both ATMIS and non-ATMIS troops operating under the Ethiopian Ministry of Defence. Consultations are ongoing regarding the future of ATMIS forces, addressing political, economic, and technical issues.
National Security Advisor Hussein Sheikh Ali stated, “Our position on the Ethiopian National Defense Force’s (ENDF) role in the post-ATMIS mission is unequivocal. As long as Ethiopia persists in violating our sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence, we cannot and will not consider it an ally in advancing peace and security in the region.”
While the future of Ethiopian troops remains uncertain, Somalia is simultaneously negotiating with international partners on deploying multinational forces, notably from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and Djibouti, to operate in Somalia for one year from January 2025.
Halqabsi News
