Ethiopia and other troop contributor countries have announced their willingness and readiness to continue their peacekeeping efforts in Somalia with the new peacekeeping mission.

The defense ministers of various countries, including Ethiopia, contributors of troops to the African Union Transitional Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), expressed their desire and readiness to continue their mission in a joint statement issued on October 16, 2024. This statement followed a ministerial meeting held on the sidelines of the African Defense Ministers’ Conference, hosted by Ethiopian Defense Minister Aisha Mohammed.

The meeting reportedly included defense ministers from Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. According to the joint statement the troop contributor countries have acknowledged the sacrifices made over the past 17 years in fighting terrorism in Somalia and stabilizing the country, as well as contributing to the development and strengthening of the institutions of the Federal Government of Somalia.

In their statement, the ministers expressed concerns about financial sustainability, emphasizing the need for adequate, flexible funding for (ATMIS) and the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). They stressed the importance of addressing the current budget deficit and learning from (ATMIS) in the formation of AUSSOM, highlighting the importance of consulting troop contributor countries during the process.

The ministerial meeting took place amid escalating tensions in the Horn of Africa and challenges related to the transition of ATMIS. Ethiopia’s decision not to participate in the African Union-led force to replace ATMIS following a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Somaliland in January 2024 has added to the complexities.

The deployment of Egyptian troops and weapons shipments to Mogadishu further complicated the situation. Ethiopia expressed concerns over the transition of ATMIS, describing the situation as “full of danger” for the region.

In a recent development, Egypt, Somalia, and Eritrea held a tripartite meeting in Asmara, agreeing on measures to enhance Somalia’s ability to protect its land and sea borders.