African defense chiefs meet to discuss rising tensions
African defense ministers are meeting in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, for a conference on security and peace at a time when several of the continent’s countries are embroiled in conflicts.
The three-day event, the first organized by the Ethiopian Ministry of Defense, commenced on Tuesday. Representatives of regional organizations, senior military officers, military attachés in Addis Ababa, and researchers engaged in military affairs are also participating, according to the state-owned Ethiopian News Agency.
In an opening speech, Ethiopia’s defense chief, Aisha Mohammed Mussa, stated that Africa’s security situation has become increasingly complex.
“We are acutely aware of the many security challenges that confront our continent, from the threat of terrorism and insurgencies to the rise of organized crime and human trafficking,” she stated.
“For Africa to achieve peace and global security, we must be united,” the official said, emphasizing the significance of security partnerships and cooperation among African defense forces.
Ethiopia is hosting the summit at a time of rising tensions in the Horn of Africa. The East African country and its neighbor, Somalia, have been at odds since the beginning of the year, following Addis Ababa’s controversial agreement with breakaway Somaliland to lease 20km of its coastline. The January 1 pact would allow the landlocked country to gain access to the Red Sea and build a marine base, allegedly in exchange for recognition of Somaliland’s independence.
Mogadishu, which considers Somaliland part of its territory, has declared the deal illegal and has won Egypt’s support against Ethiopia. The two Arab League states have accused Ethiopia of violating Somali territorial integrity and fueling regional instability. Cairo has since shipped military equipment to Somalia and offered to contribute troops to a new African Union-led mission in the conflict-torn nation. In June, Mogadishu threatened to expel thousands of Ethiopian soldiers fighting the Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group Al-Shabaab in Somalia ahead of the deployment of the AU peacekeeping force if Addis Ababa failed to revoke the maritime agreement.
On Tuesday, the head of the AU’s political affairs and counterterrorism directorate commended Ethiopia for remaining one of the top troop contributors to missions led by the union and the United Nations.
“As far back as 1951, Ethiopian personnel have left an indelible mark of courage and sacrifice as part of the United Nations, multinational force in Korea and now play a lead role in Somalia as part of the African Union’s peace mission in the country,” Babatunde Abayomi Taiwo said in an address at the ongoing conference.
He warned that rising tensions between governments could undermine joint efforts to address underlying causes of conflicts across the continent. The official advocated for a collaborative approach to strengthening Africa’s defenses against threats and enhancing its global position.
