Somalia has formally rejected a request from Ethiopia to participate in an upcoming multinational maritime exercise in Somali territorial waters, citing clear violations of international law and asserting its full sovereignty over national maritime zones.
The decision, announced by Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, follows a formal approach by Ethiopia during a recent summit of East African foreign ministers held in Addis Ababa. Ethiopian officials reportedly expressed interest in contributing personnel to a planned regional naval drill, part of broader African Union-led peacekeeping initiatives along the Somali coastline.
Minister Fiqi, speaking at a press briefing in Mogadishu, did not mince words.
“We cannot allow a landlocked nation to operate in our waters,” he said. “Somalia maintains full sovereignty over its land, sea, and airspace. Any unauthorized involvement by Ethiopia in maritime drills violates international maritime law and our national regulations.”
Somalia’s rejection is the latest episode in an escalating diplomatic standoff between the two Horn of Africa neighbors. Relations have been strained since Ethiopia signed a controversial memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Somaliland on January 1, 2024. The deal granted Ethiopia access to a 20-kilometre stretch of Somaliland’s coast in exchange for symbolic diplomatic recognition—a move Mogadishu has repeatedly denounced as illegal and destabilizing.
Fiqi said Ethiopia’s current proposal to deploy naval personnel under the AU’s African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) successor force, known as AUSSOM, is part of a broader strategy to secure maritime access through unofficial channels.
“There is no precedent or legal framework that allows this kind of involvement,” he said. “This is not a technical military matter—it is a political maneuver that undermines the sovereignty of Somalia.”
The defense minister further clarified that Somalia welcomes regional cooperation in securing the Red Sea and Indian Ocean shipping lanes but will not tolerate actions that disregard its territorial rights.
“Ethiopia’s intentions cannot be separated from the backdrop of the illegal MoU with Somaliland,” Fiqi added. “Their naval aspirations are directly linked to that controversial agreement, which no sovereign state recognizes.”
The multinational naval drill, organized under the framework of the East African Standby Force (EASF), is expected to bring together coastal states in the region with vested interests in maritime security. Invitations have been extended to Djibouti, Kenya, and Tanzania, among others, all of which have established navies and recognized maritime jurisdictions.
Ethiopia, which lost its coastline in 1993 following Eritrea’s independence, has made no secret of its ambition to regain access to the sea. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has previously described sea access as a “national security priority,” a statement that caused alarm in Somalia and other coastal neighbors.
The African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have yet to publicly respond to Somalia’s rejection, though diplomatic sources say internal discussions are underway to prevent further deterioration of regional relations.
Somalia’s firm stance sends a message not just to Ethiopia, but to all regional actors eyeing maritime engagement without proper legal standing. It underscores the growing assertiveness of the Somali government in defending its national interests amid rising geopolitical competition in the Horn of Africa.
For now, Ethiopia remains on the sidelines of the maritime exercise, and Mogadishu’s message is clear when it comes to its territorial waters, sovereignty is non-negotiable.
