Ethiopia has issued a strong warning regarding the protection of its national interests in Somalia, as stated by Ambassador Nebiyu Tedla, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a press briefing on current diplomatic matters.
When asked by journalists about the implications of recent military agreements between Egypt and Somalia on Ethiopia, Ambassador Nebiyu addressed concerns about Ethiopia’s role in the region.
He also responded to questions about the upcoming end of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in December.
With Somalia’s peace and security institutions still lacking the necessary capacity, Egypt has expressed interest in contributing to a new peacekeeping force to replace ATMIS.
Furthermore, Somalia has indicated a desire to exclude Ethiopian forces from this new mission.
Ambassador Nebiyu emphasized that Somalia, as a sovereign nation, has the right to make agreements with any country, including Egypt.
He stated that the military agreement between Egypt and Somalia does not pose a significant concern for Ethiopia.
Regarding the new peacekeeping force to be established after ATMIS, Ambassador Nebiyu noted that discussions are ongoing.
He confirmed that Egypt is among the countries that have submitted requests to participate in this mission.
He also highlighted Ethiopia’s extensive experience in peacekeeping and its willingness to continue contributing to Somalia’s stability, should the opportunity arise.
However, the final decision on the composition of the new peacekeeping mission will rest with the UN Security Council and other relevant bodies, including the African Union.
Ambassador Nebiyu made it clear that Ethiopia remains committed to supporting Somalia but will take any necessary measures if developments in Somalia are found to threaten Ethiopia’s national security and interests.
He also stressed that Ethiopia would work to ensure that the new peacekeeping mission in Somalia does not create additional tensions in the region.
Another topic addressed during the press briefing was the security of Ethiopians in the Middle East, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Following the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political office in Tehran, concerns have arisen about potential retaliatory actions by Iran and Hezbollah against Israel.
Ambassador Nebiyu reassured that the approximately 150,000 Ethiopians living in Lebanon are not currently in immediate danger.
However, given the volatile situation in the region, he urged Ethiopians in Lebanon to prepare their belongings in advance.
He also indicated that, should the security situation deteriorate, Ethiopia is prepared to coordinate with Lebanon and international partners to evacuate its citizens.
