Ethiopia said Friday that it will work with a new African Union force that is scheduled to deploy later this month to combat Islamist Al-Shabaab terrorists in Somalia.
Following the signing of a maritime agreement between the Addis Ababa government and the breakaway territory of Somaliland, Mogadishu had earlier stated that Ethiopian troops would not participate due to tense relations between the two nations.
However, in a compromise agreement mediated by Turkey, the two nations decided to end tensions last month after months of arguing.
Ethiopian Defence Minister Aisha Mohammed led a high-level visit to Somalia on Thursday, meeting President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and delivered a message from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
“The discussions reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to work together to ensure peace and stability in Somalia and the region,” a statement from the Ethiopian foreign ministry read.
“The two countries agreed to collaborate on the AUSSOM mission and strengthen bilateral ties,” it added, referring to the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia.
Late last year, the UN Security Council approved the establishment of a new AU mission in Somalia.
Only the United States abstained because of financial concerns, while 14 of the 15 council members passed a resolution.
It is meant to take the role of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), which is supported by the UN.
Up to 12,000 troops were available to ATMIS until its withdrawal on December 31 in order to combat the ongoing, serious danger posed by Al-Shabaab.
Somalia and Ethiopia had been invited to take part in the UNSC meeting, without voting.
Somalia’s representative used the occasion to explain that bilateral agreements in November provided for the supply of some 11,000 troops to AUSSOM from partner countries.
In the agreed document, it was suggested that an AU force with UN support and up to 75% of funding come from a mechanism established by the UNSC the year before.
The day after devastating strikes in the border region of Doolow, Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ali Mohamed Omar traveled to Addis Ababa last week to meet with his Ethiopian colleague Mesganu Arega in an attempt to maintain the tenuous truce between the two nations.
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