Ethiopia and Somalia Strengthen Security Cooperation Under New AUSSOM Mission Post-ATMIS

Ethiopia and Somalia are bolstering their security cooperation following discussions between leaders in Addis Ababa in February. The agreement, finalized after meetings between army chiefs in Mogadishu, addresses the transition from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), which began in January 2025. The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) played a significant role in ATMIS from 2022 to 2024. Military chiefs from both nations welcomed the start of AUSSOM, emphasizing the importance of building on ATMIS's accomplishments. They also agreed on the ENDF's deployment within AUSSOM and reaffirmed their commitment to jointly combatting terrorism, particularly Al-Shabaab, to maintain regional peace and stability.