Wednesday 25,Dec,2024 {HMC} Somalia and Ethiopia are working to salvage a fragile peace after a deadly clash in Somalia’s border town of Doolow threatened to derail commitments made under the Ankara Declaration earlier this month.
Ethiopia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mesganu Arga, and Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ali Omar, met in Addis Ababa on Tuesday to reaffirm their nations’ dedication to the Ankara agreements. The discussions, which came just a day after Ethiopian troops allegedly attacked Somali forces in Doolow, focused on strengthening bilateral ties and maintaining stability in the volatile Horn of Africa.
The Somali government has accused Ethiopian forces operating under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) of attacking military bases in Doolow on Monday morning. According to Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the attack targeted the army, police, and intelligence outposts, causing multiple casualties.
Jubaland officials offered a different account, claiming Ethiopian troops intervened to protect local politicians after Somali federal forces attempted to shoot down a plane carrying members of the state government.
“The incident escalated into a firefight, resulting in injuries and disarmament of federal forces,” Jubaland Security Minister Yusuf Hussein Osman said at a press conference. Witnesses in Doolow described intense clashes that spread through the town before Somali forces were overpowered.
The Doolow clash has cast a shadow over the Ankara Declaration, signed on Dec. 12 and brokered by Turkey, which sought to resolve long-standing tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia. The agreement emphasized mutual respect for sovereignty, economic collaboration, and coordinated security efforts.
Despite these tensions, both nations appear determined to preserve the progress made in Ankara. “The interdependence of our nations makes collaboration imperative,” Ambassador Mesganu said during Tuesday’s meeting. Omar echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Somalia’s commitment to fulfilling the agreements.
The clash highlights the enduring fragility of Somalia-Ethiopia relations, strained by territorial disputes and diverging regional interests. Earlier this year, Ethiopia’s agreement with Somaliland to lease the Berbera port reignited tensions, as Mogadishu viewed the deal as a breach of its sovereignty.
Turkey’s mediation in Ankara marked a turning point, aiming to foster cooperation and provide Ethiopia, a landlocked nation, with access to Somali ports. The Doolow clash, however, underscores the complexities of implementing such agreements in a region rife with mistrust and competing allegiances.
Observers warn that addressing the root causes of conflict and ensuring accountability will be critical to sustaining the Ankara Declaration. Both governments have pledged to continue dialogue, with Ethiopia reaffirming its commitment to “revitalizing and deepening fraternal relations” in the spirit of Ankara.
