Ethiopia is reportedly planning to withdraw more than 3,000 troops from Somalia as renewed fighting in Tigray puts pressure on Addis Ababa to redirect its military forces.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (Somali Report) — Ethiopia is considering pulling more than 3,000 troops out of Somalia as renewed fighting in the country's north puts additional pressure on Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government to redeploy military personnel inside Ethiopia, Bloomberg reported.
The troops could be withdrawn within the coming days or weeks, according to people familiar with the plan cited by Bloomberg. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.
It remains unclear whether the planned withdrawal would affect Ethiopian soldiers serving under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM, troops deployed under bilateral security agreements, or personnel from both arrangements.
Ethiopia has maintained a substantial military presence in Somalia for years and has been an important security partner for the Somali government in operations against Al-Shabaab. Ethiopian forces have been deployed in several regions, including Bay, Bakool, Gedo and Hiiraan, particularly in areas near the border between the two countries.
If carried out, the withdrawal would represent a significant reduction in Ethiopia's military footprint in Somalia. It could also raise questions about who would take over positions currently held by Ethiopian troops and whether Somali security forces have sufficient capacity to fill any gaps.
Renewed fighting in Tigray
The reported plan comes as Ethiopia faces a fresh escalation of violence in its northern Tigray region, more than three years after a peace agreement brought an end to a devastating two-year war.
Fighting involving federal forces, Tigrayan forces and other armed groups has intensified in recent days, while reports of drone strikes have added to concerns over a wider escalation.
Bloomberg reported that pro-government forces had captured the strategic town of Alamata and were moving northwards towards Mekelle, the capital of Tigray.
The renewed violence has also placed pressure on medical facilities. Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, said hundreds of people wounded in the fighting had sought treatment at hospitals it supports in Korem, Alamata and Shire.
The organisation described the situation in northern Ethiopia as highly concerning and warned of increasing numbers of people arriving with war-related injuries.
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The latest clashes have raised concerns over the durability of the Pretoria peace agreement signed in 2022 between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, or TPLF.
Regional tensions
The security situation has become more complicated following the formation of an alliance involving several armed groups opposed to Abiy's government. The groups include the TPLF, the Oromo Liberation Army and Amhara Fano forces.
The alliance has said it wants to remove the current government and establish a transitional administration.
Ethiopia's military chief, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, has accused neighbouring Egypt, Sudan and Eritrea of supporting armed groups fighting the government. All three countries have rejected the allegations.
Fighting has also affected parts of the Afar region, an area of major economic importance because it contains the main transport corridor linking landlocked Ethiopia with Djibouti, the country's principal trade gateway.
Ethiopia has previously reduced its military presence in Somalia during periods of intense fighting at home. When the Tigray conflict began in 2020, Addis Ababa withdrew thousands of troops from Somalia to reinforce its forces in the domestic war.
The latest reported plan suggests that growing security demands inside Ethiopia could once again influence the country's military deployment in Somalia.
Any substantial withdrawal could have implications for Somalia's security landscape, where Al-Shabaab continues to operate and the federal government is seeking to strengthen its own forces while working with AUSSOM and other international partners.
The Ethiopian government has not publicly confirmed the reported withdrawal plan, and the final number of troops involved, the timetable and whether replacement forces would be deployed in Somalia remain uncertain.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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