Escalating Tensions in East Africa: Ethiopian Troops Expulsion from Somalia
Tensions between East African neighbors have reached new heights since January, following Addis Ababa’s controversial deal with breakaway Somaliland. The agreement allows Ethiopia access to the port of Berbera on the Gulf of Aden, sparking outrage in Somalia.
Somali National Security Adviser Hussein Sheikh-Ali announced plans to expel Ethiopian troops deployed in Somalia by December if Addis Ababa doesn’t cancel the disputed port access deal. The presence of Ethiopian National Defense Forces in Somalia, part of AU-led missions, will come to an end by the end of 2021.
Sheikh-Ali revealed that 9,000 troops would leave, and a smaller multinational peacekeeping mission will be announced by June. Ethiopia will not be included in the new force due to the sovereignty violations against Somalia.
Somalia has denounced the port access deal as aggression, leading to the expulsion of the Ethiopian Ambassador and heightened tensions between the two nations. The decision to expel Ethiopian forces poses risks of further destabilization in Somalia, as Al Shabaab militants could exploit security voids.
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