Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia have reached a boiling point, with Somalia accusing its neighbour of arming the northeastern Puntland region, which has declared independence despite opposition from the central government. This accusation is the latest chapter in a long-running saga of strained relations between the two nations, a history marked by mistrust and regional instability.
Somalia’s already fragile federal structure, comprised of various states, is particularly vulnerable to instability, further hindering its efforts to combat the ongoing Al-Shabaab insurgency. The situation took a dramatic turn in January when Ethiopia leased 20 kilometers of coastline from the breakaway Somaliland region in exchange for recognizing its independence. This deal, deemed illegal by Somalia’s government, led to the expulsion of the Ethiopian ambassador and a threat to withdraw thousands of Ethiopian troops stationed in Somalia assisting in the fight against Islamist insurgents.
While Ethiopia has repeatedly denied interfering in Somalia’s internal affairs, Somalia remains deeply concerned about Ethiopian involvement, particularly in regions like Puntland, where instability could have broader implications. “Somalia strongly condemns unauthorised arms shipments from Ethiopia to Somalia’s Puntland region, violating our sovereignty and threatening regional security,” the foreign ministry in Mogadishu stated on X late on Friday. “We demand an immediate halt and call on international partners to support peace efforts in the Horn of Africa.”
Somaliland, located between the Ethiopian border and Puntland, has been a semi-autonomous part of Somalia since 1998. In January, it declared its intention to operate as an independent state due to a disagreement with the central government over constitutional changes. The Somali foreign ministry, in a post on X, presented “documented evidence” of two lorries transporting weapons from Ethiopia to Puntland, claiming this was done without diplomatic clearance. “This activity constitutes a grave infringement on Somalia’s sovereignty and poses serious implications for national and regional security,” the ministry asserted.
Meanwhile, Turkey, in an effort to mediate a resolution to the dispute over the Somaliland-Ethiopia coastal deal, has announced plans to meet separately with Somalia and Ethiopia. Turkey has already hosted two rounds of meetings between the East African neighbours in an attempt to repair their relations. A third round of talks, initially scheduled for Tuesday in Ankara, was ultimately cancelled.
Under the January deal, Somaliland, which declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, agreed to lease 20 kilometers (12 miles) of its coast to Ethiopia for 50 years, with Ethiopia aiming to establish a naval base and a commercial port. In return, Somaliland, whose independence is not recognized by Mogadishu, has claimed Ethiopia would become the first country to formally acknowledge its sovereignty. However, these assertions have not been confirmed by Addis Ababa.
Senior officials in Mogadishu have stated that this agreement necessitates the withdrawal of thousands of Ethiopian soldiers deployed in Somalia to combat Al-Shabaab. These troops are stationed in Somali territory based on bilateral agreements and an agreement with the African Union. On August 14, Mogadishu signed a military pact with Ethiopia’s rival, Egypt, which has offered to join the AU force in Somalia in 2025.
Turkey has been mediating between Somalia and Ethiopia since July, with two rounds of talks in Ankara failing to yield significant progress. A third round, scheduled for last week, was cancelled without comment from either the host or the participating nations.
