Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia have escalated as Somalia’s government in Mogadishu accuses Ethiopia of shipping firearms to Jubaland, a member of the federal government of Somalia in the south.
Two Ethiopian planes allegedly entered Kismayo, a port city in southern Somalia, over the past few weeks, carrying illegal firearms.
The allegations come amid heightened tensions between Jubaland and the federal government in Mogadishu. Jubaland recently issued an arrest warrant against Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, while the Mogadishu government issued a similar warrant against Ahmed Madobe, who was re-elected as president of Jubaland for a third term.
Somalia also claims that the planes flew Jubaland Deputy President Mahmud Seiyd Aden to Ethiopia, which it sees as a move to destabilize the country by supporting armed groups and controlling the Gedo region. In response, Somalia has vowed to defend its territorial integrity if Ethiopia continues to “violate” Somalia’s sovereignty.
This is not the first time Somalia has accused Ethiopia of illegally transporting weapons into the country. In January 2024, Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, which Somalia considers an integral part of its territory. The agreement would grant Ethiopia 20 kilometers of coastal land on a rental basis for 50 years.
Somalia has demanded that thousands of Ethiopian peacekeepers leave its territory by December 31, 2024. The situation remains tense, with civilian flights from Mogadishu to regions suspended.
