#Somalia and #Ethiopia have signed an agreement that includes Ethiopian forces should be part of the African Peace Mission.

Mogadishu (Hornpot.com) Discussions between the military commanders of Ethiopia and Somalia together with the two intelligence commanders of two countries held in Mogadishu have been released Joint statement on the meeting of the commanders of the national army of Somalia and Ethiopia;

1. After a bilateral discussion between the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Mr. Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Mr. Dr. Abiy Ahmed, which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 14-16 February 2025, it was agreed to hold technical talks in Mogadishu, Somalia.
2. Under the guidance of the two leaders of the two countries, a delegation led by Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Commander of the Ethiopian National Defense Force, paid a one-day working visit to the Federal Republic of Somalia on February 22, 2025.

The commander was accompanied by the Head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISS), Redwan Hussein, and other Ethiopian government officials.

3. The Commander of the Somali National Army, Major General Odowaa Yusuf Rage, and the Director of the National Security and Intelligence Agency (NISA), Ambassador Abdullahi Mohamed Ali, welcomed Field Marshal Birhanu Jula and Redwan Hussein Somalia, praising the strong cooperation between the two countries.
4. The commanders exchanged views on the security situation in Somalia and the region, noting the importance of maintaining peace, security, and stability in the Horn of Africa and the entire African continent. They specifically mentioned the efforts made by the countries that contributed troops and police to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM/ATMIS) and the Somali Security Forces, who have sacrificed their lives since 2007 to stabilize the country and fight Al-Shabaab.
5. The commanders welcomed the launch of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), noting the importance of continuing the previous successes of ATMIS. They emphasized the role of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) in peacekeeping operations of the African Union and the formation of ENDF forces that will operate in AUSSOM.
6. The commanders stressed the importance of fully supporting the ongoing efforts to eradicate Al-Shabaab, expressing their commitment to fighting terrorism together.
7. The two sides agreed that the Federal Government of Somalia should be the only door to official relations between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of Somalia, and respect the independence, territorial unity, and solidarity of the Somali people.
8. The commanders called on the international community to support the construction of the powers of the Somali National Army, in order to facilitate the departure of AUSSOM and make Somalia able to fully take over the responsibility of its security.
9. At the level of bilateral relations, the commanders agreed to establish a military agreement (Status of Force Agreement – SOFA) concerning all bilateral forces operating in Somalia, while the signing of the SOFA agreement will be part of the Security Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in December 2023.

It was signed by the Ethiopian Military Commander Birhanu Jula and the Commander of the Somali National Army Odowaa Yusuf Rage

Ethiopian Military Commander Birhanu Jula

Commander of the Somali National Army Odowaa Yusuf Rage

Hornpost staff Reporter

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