Somalia Says It Will Not Take Sides in Ethiopia-Eritrea Dispute

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia says it will not take sides in the escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, seeking to distance itself from a potential regional confrontation despite its increasingly close ties with countries at odds with Addis Ababa.

Deputy Foreign Minister Hassan Mohamed Ali Nadaara told the BBC that Mogadishu was closely monitoring developments but remained committed to neutrality and a diplomatic resolution to the dispute.

The position comes as relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea deteriorate amid disagreements over regional security, access to the Red Sea and competing strategic interests in the Horn of Africa, raising concerns about the possibility of renewed military confrontation.

Nadaara also rejected suggestions that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s participation in talks involving Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan in Cairo signalled Somalia’s entry into an alliance directed against Ethiopia.

He said the meeting was intended to discuss regional issues and should not be interpreted as Somalia aligning itself with countries opposed to Addis Ababa.

The clarification highlights the diplomatic balancing act facing Mogadishu, which has strengthened relations with Egypt and Eritrea while maintaining important security and political ties with Ethiopia.

Ethiopia remains a significant player in Somalia’s security landscape, with Ethiopian troops involved in operations against Al-Shabaab, while Egypt has expanded its defence cooperation with Mogadishu in recent years.

Relations between Somalia and Ethiopia have also faced strains over Addis Ababa’s ambitions for access to the sea, an issue that has added to wider geopolitical tensions across the Horn of Africa.

Somalia’s efforts to remain neutral come against a backdrop of shifting regional alliances, with rivalries involving Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt increasingly intersecting with questions of maritime access, security cooperation and political influence.

A military confrontation between Ethiopia and Eritrea could have consequences beyond their borders, potentially disrupting trade, regional security operations and stability along the Red Sea corridor.

The stakes are particularly high for Somalia, given its reliance on regional cooperation to combat Al-Shabaab and its efforts to rebuild state institutions after decades of conflict.

Mogadishu’s stated neutrality reflects an attempt to preserve working relationships with competing regional powers while avoiding entanglement in disputes that could undermine its own security priorities.

The government has called for stability and a diplomatic solution, maintaining that Somalia’s participation in regional consultations should not be viewed as support for one side against another.