Ethiopia-Somalia conflict: Regional force backs AU stance, urges restraint

The Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) has adopted the African Union statement on the ongoing tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia, which stressed their need for restraint in the search for a resolution.

The two countries are feuding over a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that Ethiopia signed with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia that claims autonomy but is not recognised as such.

Landlocked Ethiopia is seeking to lease a 20 km marine base from Somaliland for its navy, in exchange for recognition and a stake in the national Ethiopian Airways. Somalia, however, insists that Ethiopia has violated its sovereignty.

The EASF announcement came at the close of the EASF's 32nd Ordinary Policy Organs meeting in Nairobi, where experts from member states, defence chiefs, and ministers discussed issues affecting the region, including armed conflict, inter- and intra-state conflicts, counterterrorism, cyber security challenges, and humanitarian challenges caused by the climate crisis.

On January 17, the AU's Peace and Security Council encouraged the two nations to refrain from further actions and pronouncements that could negatively impact the strong bonds of good neighbourliness, friendship, and solidarity existing between them.

“The Council of Ministers engaged in robust deliberations aimed at addressing multifaceted challenges and enhancing the organisation’s effectiveness in responding to the evolving security dynamics. The council emphasised the importance of establishing well-coordinated and proactive responses to regional threats, emergencies, and crises,” EASF said in a statement.

The council also agreed to strengthen the mandate of the regional force by, among other things, elevating the quality of training for peace support operations and fostering the development of trainers.

“These initiatives underscore the organisation’s commitment to building the capacity of member states and ensuring a proficient response to regional security matters,” added the statement.

The EASF’s move is part of efforts to use diplomacy to end conflict before interventions.

The regional force was established in July 2004 as one of the AU's mechanisms to provide the capability for rapid deployment of forces to carry out deployment, rapid intervention, peace support operations and peace enforcement.

Though it has yet to deploy in conflict-laden member states, it has sent election observer missions to EASF member states such as Morocco, Kenya and Somalia. Other members are Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan and Uganda.

“We need to prioritise the enhancement of our security capabilities as envisaged within the EAST framework. It is therefore incumbent on us to strengthen ties, foster collaboration and streamline our security architecture which is fundamental to success,” Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said before handing over the council's chairmanship to his Rwandan counterpart Juvenal Marizamunda, who takes over for the next one year.

Kenya handed over the annual rotational leadership mantle to Rwanda on Saturday after a successful year of leadership.