Friday March 7, 2025
Somali security personnel march during a graduation ceremony in Baidoa after completing a six-month Ethiopian-led training program under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). CREDIT / FANA BC
Mogadishu (HOL) — Hundreds of newly trained Somali security personnel graduated Thursday in Baidoa after completing a six-month training program conducted by Ethiopian forces under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
The recruits underwent rigorous military drills, weapons handling exercises, and counterterrorism training, equipping them with essential skills to combat insurgent threats. In a statement, AUSSOM emphasized that the program hopes to enhance Somalia's ability to independently manage security.
The graduation ceremony was attended by senior Somali officials, including South West State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen), Second Deputy Prime Minister Abdisalan Abdi Ali, and key ministers. Brigadier General Besfat Fente Tegene, commander of ATMIS Sector 3, lauded the initiative, urging the new forces to uphold their duty to protect their communities.
The ceremony and Ethiopia's continued role in training Somali security forces come amid a thaw in diplomatic ties brokered under the Ankara Declaration, mediated by Turkey, which sought to de-escalate the crisis triggered by Ethiopia's maritime access deal with Somaliland. The contentious agreement, signed in early 2024, was condemned by Somalia as a violation of its sovereignty, prompting the federal government to push for Ethiopia's exclusion from the upcoming African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
Despite the strained relations between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa, South West State has remained firm in its partnership with Ethiopian forces. In June 2024, the South West regional lawmakers openly opposed the federal government's plan to withdraw Ethiopian troops from Somalia by the end of 2024, stating that Ethiopian forces were critical to maintaining stability. The Ministry of Security for South West State reaffirmed its stance, declaring, "The Ethiopian troops under ATMIS mission have a difficult task. We thank them for their participation in the peacekeeping operation, and they will continue to stay and play their role in the region."
Similarly, in August 2024, protests erupted in the Bakool region, with demonstrators voicing support for Ethiopian troops while rejecting the deployment of Egyptian forces. Hudur's District Administration and the Bakool Regional Administration issued a joint statement praising Ethiopian troops for "sacrificing their blood to defend the town against enemies," warning that the introduction of Egyptian forces could destabilize regional security.
In February 2025, Ethiopia and Somalia agreed to a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) under AUSSOM. The agreement, formalized during a high-level Ethiopian delegation visit to Mogadishu, outlined the operational mandate of Ethiopian forces under the AU mission. The SOFA reaffirmed Somalia's sovereignty by establishing Mogadishu as the sole authority overseeing Ethiopia's security engagements.