A high-level delegation led by Mohamud Sayid Adan, Vice President of Somalia’s Jubaland State, recently met with Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Commander-in-Chief of the Ethiopian Armed Forces, in Addis Ababa. The discussions centered on strengthening security cooperation, particularly in countering the Al-Shabaab insurgency and improving border security between Ethiopia and Jubaland regions.

Jubaland Television, which aired images of the meeting, reported that both sides agreed to bolster collaboration on cross-border movements and enhance coordinated efforts to stabilize the border regions. The talks underscored the shared interest of both parties in maintaining security and combating extremist threats that pose risks to regional stability.

This meeting occurred just two days after a landmark agreement in Ankara, where Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed resolved a year-long diplomatic dispute. The Ankara agreement reaffirmed mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, signaling a potential thaw in tensions between the two governments.

However, the Addis Ababa talks come amid a complex and strained political landscape. The Somali government recently accused Ethiopia of using an armed plane with a military escort to transport Jubaland’s Vice President from Kismayo, escalating tensions and leading to the withdrawal of Somali federal forces from Ras Kamboni. Ras Kamboni, strategically located along the Somali-Kenyan border, has been a focal point of power struggles between Somalia’s central government and regional forces.

The timing of the Addis Ababa meeting has raised further questions regarding Ethiopia’s role in Jubaland and its broader regional strategy. Analysts note Ethiopia’s ongoing concerns about Al-Shabaab’s presence near its border and its reliance on Jubaland as a buffer zone to limit the group’s incursions into Ethiopian territory. While Ethiopia’s military cooperation with Jubaland may enhance security operations, it risks exacerbating existing political fractures between the Somali Federal Government and Jubaland State.

Regional observers are now closely monitoring developments, as Ethiopia appears to solidify its alliances with Jubaland amid a backdrop of fragile political dynamics. The ongoing struggle for influence in Somalia, coupled with Ethiopia’s interests in securing its borders and countering terrorism, highlights the complexities of regional diplomacy in the Horn of Africa.

As Ethiopia and Jubaland signal their unity in the fight against Al-Shabaab, the Somali government faces the challenge of balancing its sovereignty concerns with the need for regional cooperation to maintain security. How these developments unfold in the coming weeks may have significant implications for both local stability and broader geopolitical alignments in the Horn of Africa.