Ethiopia and Somalia Agree on Deployment of Ethiopian Troops Under New Bilateral Pact

Ethiopia and Somalia Reach Agreement on Deployment of Ethiopian Defense Forces in Somalia

Ethiopia’s Chief of Staff, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, and Somalia’s National Army Commander, Major General Odawa Yusuf Rage, have reached an agreement regarding the status and operations of Ethiopian troops stationed in Somalia under a bilateral agreement.

The agreement, known as the 'Status of Forces Agreement' (SOFA), outlines the terms for the presence, activities, responsibilities, and rights of Ethiopian forces in Somalia. This SOFA is a key component of the defense cooperation agreement signed between the two countries in 2023.

During a one-day official visit to Mogadishu on February 22 2025, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula and his delegation discussed this agreement with senior Somali officials, focusing on peace, security, stability, and cooperation in the region.

The two military leaders emphasized the importance of building on the previous successes of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and transitioning to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). They also agreed on the need for Ethiopia’s defense forces to be integrated into ATMIS.

This development follows Somalia’s earlier decision to exclude Ethiopian troops from the new African Union support and stabilization mission. However, with the resolution of tensions through a strong bilateral agreement, Somalia is now reconsidering its stance and exploring ways to include Ethiopian forces in the mission.