Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, Chief of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), told lawmakers in Addis Ababa on Saturday that foreign military deployments in Somalia—under the guise of cooperation—pose serious concerns for the region’s stability and Ethiopia’s sovereignty.

“The threat is real,” Berhanu said in a briefing to the Ethiopian parliament. “There are foreign forces inside Somalia whose strategic intent raises serious concerns for Ethiopia’s stability.”

While Berhanu did not explicitly name Egypt, his remarks come amid reports confirming that Cairo signed a military cooperation agreement with the Somali federal government in August 2024.

The deal reportedly allows Egypt to deploy up to 10,000 troops to Somalia—half under the African Union’s stabilization mission (AUSSOM), and the rest under a separate bilateral arrangement.

The agreement also includes provisions for weapons transfers.

Berhanu noted that the Horn of Africa is a region plagued by land and maritime tensions and warned of forces actively working to block Ethiopia from accessing the sea.

“We are ready to solve the region’s problems together,” he said. “But there are forces that do not want Ethiopia to approach the sea gate.”

Ethiopia maintains troops in Somalia as part of both the African Union’s stabilization effort and a bilateral security arrangement.

However, Berhanu suggested that the expanding Egyptian presence may be part of a broader strategy to encircle or weaken Ethiopia—especially given longstanding tensions between the two countries over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile River.

Egypt sees the GERD as a threat to its water security, while Ethiopia considers it a critical development project.

Ethiopia’s national interest in Somalia 

“Our presence in Somalia has always been about supporting peace and counterterrorism,” Berhanu told lawmakers. “But the environment is shifting, and we have to reassess what’s in our national interest.”

He did not disclose the number of Ethiopian troops operating in Somalia under bilateral terms but said defense officials are reevaluating Ethiopia’s strategic posture in light of “emerging regional threats,” including Al-Shabaab.

Meanwhile, Somali officials have defended the Egypt-Somalia military pact, arguing that it aims to rebuild the Somali National Army and strengthen regional security.

They maintain that Egypt’s participation in AUSSOM was approved by the African Union and poses no threat to neighboring countries.

The timing of the Egypt-Somalia agreement has further strained already tense relations between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.

In January 2024, Ethiopia signed a controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, granting it access to a portion of the Red Sea coast in exchange for what Somaliland leaders described as a pathway toward formal recognition.

The Somali federal government immediately denounced the deal as a violation of its sovereignty, recalled its ambassador, and declared the agreement null and void.

Tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia persisted for nearly a year, only beginning to ease following a Turkish-brokered dialogue in late 2024, in which both sides agreed to pursue future cooperation on maritime access.

Ethiopia has maintained its commitment to the Somaliland deal but has not publicly withdrawn from it.

Somaliland authorities continue to assert that the agreement remains valid.

In a recent development, Somaliland officials told reporters that President Abdirahman Irro is expected to visit Addis Ababa soon to hold direct talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed regarding the MoU.

Ethiopian officials have stated that the MoU is still pending, but they remain committed to securing maritime access through diplomatic channels.

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During a high-level meeting, both sides emphasized the critical role of ENDF in African Union peace support operations and agreed on the force’s disposition within AUSSOM.

The deployment is expected to bolster security efforts and support stabilization initiatives in Somalia as the country continues its fight against al-Shabaab militants.

“The Chiefs welcomed the commencement of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and highlighted the importance of building on the achievements made by its predecessor ATMIS,” a statement from the two countries’ security officials noted.

“The chiefs underscored the role of ENDF in African Union peace support operations and agreed on the Force disposition of ENDF in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM),” it added.

This move marks a continuation of Ethiopia’s military presence in Somalia, now under the new AUSSOM framework, which replaced the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

Somali officials reiterated the importance of collaboration with regional partners to ensure security gains are maintained and further strengthened.

The integration of ENDF into AUSSOM comes amid ongoing security challenges and efforts to transition Somalia’s security responsibilities to its own forces in the coming years.

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The visit comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries, particularly concerning security operations and diplomatic relations.

COMMUNIQUE

ON THE OCCASION OF THE WORK VISIT BY THE CHIEF OF ETHIOPIA NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE FIELD MARSHAL BIRHANU JULA OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA TO SOMALIA

1. Following the recent Bilateral engagement between H.E Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia and H.E Dr. Abiy Ahmed, the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa,Ethiopia on 14-16 February 2025, it was agreed that a technical discussion was to be held in Mogadishu Somalia.
2. Based on the above instructions a delegation led by Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Chief of Ethiopia National Defence Force paid a one-day Work Visit to the Federal Republic of Somalia on 22ND February 2025. The Chief was accompanied by the head of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), Redwan Hussein and other Government Officials.
3. Maj. Gen Odawa Yusuf Rage, Chief of Defense Forces of the Somali National Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Somalia and Amb. Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Director of National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) welcomed Field Marshal General Birhanu Jula and Redwan Hussein to Somalia and commended the strongbilateral cooperation between the two countries.
4. The chiefs exchanged views on the security situation in Somalia and the region and underscored the need to maintain peace, security and stability in the Horn of Africa and in the African continent. They paid tribute to the Troop and Police Contributing Countries (T/PCCs) of the AU MISSION in Somalia (AMISOM)/ATMIS and Somali Security Forces for the sacrifices made since 2007 in pacifying the country and the fight against Al-Shabaab.
5. The Chiefs welcomed the commencement of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) and highlighted the importance of building on the achievements made by its predecessor ATMIS. The chiefs underscored the role of ENDF in African Union peace support operations and agreed on the Force disposition of ENDF in the African Union Support and Stabilization mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
6. The Chiefs emphasized the need to adequately support the current efforts to fight al-Shabaab and underscored their commitment to jointly work together to counter terrorism.
7. The parties agreed that the Federal Government of Somalia will be the only point of entry for any engagement between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Federal Republic of Somalia and to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of its people.
8. The Chiefs called upon to the international community to support in building the capabilities of the Somali National Armed Forces to ensure the smooth exit of AUSSOM and pave way for Somalia to assume her security responsibilities.
9. At bilateral level, the Chiefs agreed to develop a Status of Force Agreement a (SOFA) for all the bilateral forces that will operate in Somalia, the signing of the SOFA will be integral part of the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation that was signed in December 2023.

DONE at Mogadishu, Somalia on this 22nd day of FEBRUARY 2025.

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