According to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Ethiopian authorities are allegedly infringing on Somalia’s sovereignty by taking control of crucial infrastructure in the southern Gedo region. Reports indicate that airports in Luuq, Dolow, and Bardhere are now under Ethiopian military oversight, purportedly due to security concerns related to Egypt’s presence in the area.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, President Mohamud stated, “Ethiopia has taken control of important roads and airports in Gedo under the pretense of preventing Egypt from establishing a foothold. This constitutes an unlawful violation of Somalia’s territorial sovereignty.” He condemned Addis Ababa for seeking military dominance and accused it of attempting to assert control over Somali waters.
Despite three rounds of negotiations, talks between Ethiopia and Somalia have stalled, with the proposed fourth round failing to materialize due to Ethiopia’s refusal to respect Somalia’s territorial integrity. Reports suggest that Ethiopian troops from the 46th Motorized Battalion, part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), arrived at Bardhere Airport ostensibly to repair the runway. However, their growing military presence in Gedo has raised concerns, as these actions are framed as part of a Quick Impact Project aimed at local infrastructure enhancement.
Somali officials speculate that Ethiopia’s maneuvers are intended to thwart the deployment of Egyptian troops to the region, especially as military collaboration between Egypt and Somalia intensifies. Recently, an Egyptian warship reportedly delivered artillery and anti-aircraft weapons to Somalia, part of a broader strategy by Cairo to counter Ethiopia’s rising influence in the Horn of Africa.
Under a new defense agreement, Egypt plans to send troops to Somalia as part of the African Union Stabilization and Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which will replace ATMIS. Ethiopia, which has maintained a significant military presence in Somalia through ATMIS, faces a deadline of December 2024 for troop withdrawal.
The seizure of Gedo’s airports is viewed as a strategic attempt by Ethiopia to undermine Egypt’s growing influence, particularly amid escalating tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). President Hassan Sheikh reaffirmed Somalia’s right to involve Egypt in the new mission led by the African Union in Somalia, stating, “Egypt is welcome to participate in peacekeeping efforts in Somalia, and we are open to granting that request. However, Ethiopia is not relevant to this conversation. We will determine who is involved in our affairs; Egypt and Somalia have long been partners.”