Somalia

Somalia has declared an Ethiopian diplomat working in Mogadishu a persona non grata. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Somalia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the diplomat of engaging in "activities incompatible with his diplomatic role."

Somalia has warned the African Union against including Ethiopian troops in a peacekeeping mission, citing Addis Ababa's recent actions as a violation of its sovereignty through a controversial agreement with the breakaway region of Somaliland. The warning comes as Somalia transitions from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to the newly planned African Union Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), a mission that Somalia insists must be led under its full control.

Work is underway in Mogadishu on mission design and funding for the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) that will replace ATMIS (AU Transition Mission in Somalia) three months from now.

James Swan, acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), briefed the Security Council in New York alongside Mohammed El-Amine Souef, Head of the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). The mandate for UNSOM is set to expire at the end of the month, and Somalia has proposed a two-year process to transfer tasks to national authorities and the UN Country Team. ATMIS is expected to leave Somalia at the end of the year and drawdown of forces continues.

The Egyptian government has confirmed sending arms shipments to Somalia amid regional tension over Ethiopia’s controversial deal with the self-declared republic of Somaliland. Ethiopia agreed to recognize Somaliland in return for the lease of 20 kilometers of sea to Ethiopia, according to Somaliland officials. Somalia sees the deal as an infringement of its sovereignty. … Egypt, which has a separate dispute with Ethiopia over the sharing of Nile river waters, strongly supports Somalia.

Turkey aims to meet separately with Somalia and Ethiopia as part of its efforts to resolve a dispute between the sides over a deal that Ethiopia agreed to lease a stretch of coastline from Somaliland, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday. Turkey has so far hosted two rounds of meetings between the East African neighbours in an attempt to repair their relations. A third round of talks that had initially been set to take place in Ankara on Tuesday was cancelled.

An Islamic State branch has acquired a foothold in Puntland, in north-eastern Somalia, and has been channelling funds to the jihadist network’s other African affiliates. Curtailing the group’s activities will require the Somali government and Puntland authorities to overcome their divisions to take concerted action.

Seventeen years after the first African Union (AU) mission was deployed in Somalia to degrade the violent extremist group al-Shabaab, the country is set to have a third peace support operation starting on 1 January 2025. This month, the AU Peace and Security Council endorsed a proposal to form the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). 

The Security Council today extended its authorization of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) until the end of the year, expressing grave concern that Al-Shabaab continues to pose a serious threat to the peace, security and stability of Somalia and the region. Today’s vote follows the adoption on 12 August of resolution 2747 (2024), a technical rollover that extended the Mission’s authorization by three days.  

The Security Council today extended its authorization of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) by three days, until 15 August 2024, expressing grave concern that Al-Shabaab continues to pose a serious threat to the peace, security and stability of Somalia and the region.