Somalia has accused Ethiopia of further escalating tensions by supplying weapons to the Puntland region and massing troops and heavy artillery along the Somali-Somali Region border. This is the second time in recent months that convoys full of weapons have crossed into Somalia, raising alarm across the region.
Last month, another convoy carrying arms crossed into Somalia, and those weapons ended up in the hands of local tribal militias, further destabilizing the situation. Ethiopia’s actions, combined with its increasing military presence at the border, are fueling concerns of a broader conflict between the two neighboring nations.
Relations between Ethiopia and Somalia were already strained, with Somalia’s central government struggling to maintain unity among its federal states while battling a long-standing insurgency by Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab. The situation worsened after Ethiopia signed a deal with Somaliland on January 1, giving the landlocked country access to the ocean, deepening Somalia’s instability.
Somalia’s government strongly condemned Ethiopia’s unauthorized arms shipments, calling them a violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and a direct threat to regional security. The Somali foreign ministry demanded an immediate halt to these actions and urged international partners to intervene to support peace efforts.
Ethiopia’s military buildup along the Somali border is part of a larger strategy to exert influence over Somali regional governments, particularly Puntland, which declared itself independent after a disagreement with the central government. Locals in Garowe, Puntland’s capital, reported seeing convoys of trucks, escorted by Puntland’s security forces, carrying weapons believed to have come from Ethiopia.
This latest round of arms deliveries comes at a time when tensions are already high due to Somaliland’s recent agreement to lease part of its coastline to Ethiopia for 50 years. In return, Somaliland hinted that Ethiopia might formally recognize its independence, though Addis Ababa has not confirmed this.
The combination of arms shipments, military buildup, and Ethiopia’s involvement in Somali internal politics is pushing the region toward further instability. Diplomatic efforts, including Turkey-mediated talks, have so far failed to resolve the growing tensions, leaving the Horn of Africa in a precarious situation.
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