Saturday August 31, 2024
Lawmakers from Somalia's South West State hold a press conference following demonstrations supporting Ethiopian troops in Bakool. CREDIT / Universal TV
Baidoa (HOL) — Lawmakers from Somalia's South West State are deeply divided over protests in the Bakool region, where residents have rallied in support of Ethiopian troops while rejecting the deployment of Egyptian forces.
These protests come as tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia continue to deteriorate following Ethiopia's controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, which granted Ethiopia access to Somaliland's Red Sea coastline. Somalia's Federal Government condemned the agreement as a violation of its sovereignty and responded by excluding Ethiopian troops from the upcoming African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) in favour of Egyptian forces.
Hudur's District Administration, along with the Bakool Regional Administration, issued a joint statement expressing unwavering support for the Ethiopian troops, whom they credited with "sacrificing their blood to defend the town against enemies." The statement warned that introducing Egyptian forces could disrupt regional security and cause further suffering to a population already beleaguered by terrorism.
Following Saturday's parliamentary session, lawmakers delivered a joint statement criticizing the federal government for its failure to address pressing security concerns and for neglecting to consult with regional authorities on border issues. They voiced strong disapproval of what they described as attempts to entangle the region in the international conflict over the Nile River.
However, the protests have not gone unchallenged. A faction of South West State lawmakers has condemned the demonstrations, labelling them as acts of "national betrayal." These lawmakers have called on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's administration to take swift action against the organizers and to expedite the deployment of Egyptian troops.
Somali Federal MPs from South West State issue a joint statement condemning Friday’s rally in Hudur, where local officials expressed support for Ethiopian troops and opposed the potential deployment of Egyptian forces in Somalia. CREDIT / Arlaadi Media
Egypt's growing military presence in Somalia, following the recent signing of a defence pact and the deployment of troops and equipment, marks a substantial shift in the Horn of Africa's power dynamics. Egypt's actions are viewed as an effort to counter Ethiopia's influence, particularly concerning ongoing disputes over the Nile River and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
Some security analysts warn that these developments could lead to a broader regional conflict, drawing in neighbouring countries and undermining peace efforts in the Horn of Africa.