Ethiopia’s Defence Minister, Aisha Mohammed Mussa, made a significant visit to Somalia on Thursday, marking the first high-level bilateral engagement between the two nations since tensions flared over Ethiopia’s controversial plan to establish a naval base in the breakaway Somaliland region.
Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Omar, confirmed the visit but did not disclose the agenda of the discussions. Ethiopia’s government spokesperson remained silent on the matter.
Ethiopia maintains up to 10,000 troops in Somalia, primarily to combat the Islamist militant group al Shabaab. However, Mogadishu has repeatedly threatened to expel these troops unless Addis Ababa formally renounces its agreement with Somaliland.
The disputed deal, signed a year ago, proposed leasing Somaliland’s coastline for an Ethiopian naval base and commercial port in exchange for the potential recognition of Somaliland’s independence—an outcome Somalia staunchly opposes.
While Somaliland has operated with effective autonomy since 1991, no nation officially recognizes its independence. Mogadishu views Ethiopia’s agreement with Somaliland as a violation of its sovereignty and an act of aggression.
Following months of rising tensions and failed mediation attempts, both nations agreed in December, during talks in Turkey, to de-escalate and begin technical negotiations by February.
Ethiopian troops stationed in Somalia play a critical role under both a bilateral agreement and an African Union peacekeeping mission. Regional analysts warn that their withdrawal could embolden al Shabaab and destabilize the broader Horn of Africa.
The diplomatic rift has also shifted regional alliances, with Somalia strengthening ties with Ethiopia’s historical rivals, Egypt and Eritrea, raising fears of prolonged instability in the region.
