AQRI.net Report: The Somali government has reaffirmed its authority in determining which Troop Partner Nations (TPNs) will contribute forces to the African Union Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which is set to replace the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) in January 2024.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs made clear that all decisions regarding troop contributions to AUSSOM must align with the country’s national interests and respect its sovereignty.
The statement criticized Ethiopia’s recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the breakaway region of Somaliland, calling it a violation of Somalia’s territorial integrity and detrimental to building trust in future peacekeeping efforts. The Somali government raised concerns that past Ethiopian deployments in the region have led to an uptick in Al-Shabaab activity without yielding meaningful development.
“Past Ethiopian deployments have led to increased Al-Shabaab activity and little development. This demands a more strategic selection of troop partners to ensure AUSSOM aligns with Somalia’s security and development goals,” the statement read.
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Somali officials also emphasized their commitment to collaborating with international partners, including the African Union, United Nations, and European Union, but reiterated that decisions impacting Somalia’s security and future would not be compromised.
With the transition from ATMIS to AUSSOM nearing, Somalia is making it clear that it will take the lead in choosing troop partners that respect the nation’s sovereignty, aiming to foster both stability and progress in the region.
