Ethiopian Troops’ Participation in AUSSOM Under Review as Talks Progress.

Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, has commented on the resolution of the diplomatic standoff with Ethiopia. Speaking in Mogadishu, Fiqi attributed the breakthrough to Somalia’s “diplomatic maturity” and dismissed opposition criticisms of the agreement as “undiplomatic,” emphasizing Somalia’s commitment to fostering unity and collaboration in the region.

The resolution follows the Ankara Declaration, a framework mediated by Turkey, which addressed long-standing issues between the two nations, including Ethiopia’s controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland. The MoU had previously been deemed by Somalia as a breach of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Mohamed Omar, stated that the federal government is now reconsidering its decision to exclude Ethiopian troops from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which is combating the Al-Shabaab insurgency. “Given that the contentious issues have been resolved through the Ankara Declaration, Somalia is ready to reconsider the inclusion of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) in the upcoming AUSSOM mission,” Omar noted.

Despite the progress, the role of Ethiopian troops under AUSSOM remains a subject of ongoing discussions. Somali officials had earlier indicated that the required 11,000 troops for the mission would come from Uganda, Djibouti, and Kenya, suggesting Ethiopia’s exclusion.

Ethiopia’s Defense Minister, Aisha Mohammed, and her delegation—including State Minister of Foreign Affairs Mesganu Arga, military officers, and intelligence representatives—met with Somalia’s Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur and other senior Somali officials to explore avenues for enhanced military cooperation.

The reconciliation is seen as a step toward strengthening regional security mechanisms and addressing mutual threats, particularly the insurgency by Al-Shabaab militants. Both nations have historically cooperated on counter-terrorism but have faced challenges due to political and territorial disputes.

While Ethiopia’s inclusion in AUSSOM remains unresolved, the renewed diplomatic ties signal a commitment to working through differences for the broader goal of regional stability. Talks between the two nations are expected to continue in the coming weeks to finalize Ethiopia’s role in the mission.