Ethiopia is tied by language, culture, ethnicity, and natural resources with all its neighboring countries. This reality has made Ethiopia adopt a foreign policy that prioritizes safeguarding peace and security in the region. Its efforts over the years in maintaining stability in the region have yielded positive outcomes.

One good example is its support to the brotherly people of Somalia in their struggle for Somalia’s sustainable peace and security. Assisting the establishment of a stable government was the priority, and this was successfully achieved with the involvement of other neighboring countries and the regional organization, IGAD. Yet, the challenge has persisted and required not only diplomatically but also militarily, which Ethiopia successfully delivered.

In 2006, based on the invitation from the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, Ethiopia was able to get in Somalia and succeed in ousting the radical Islamist movement, the Union of Islamic Courts, helping Somalia to restore relative peace and security. Again in 2012, when Al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgent group Al-Shabab was reinforced, Ethiopian forces, together with allies, have expelled Al-Shabab from South and Central Somalia. Its coordination and effort with other troop-contributing countries have helped the government of Somalia to enhance its capacity and weaken Al-Shabab.

For three decades, Ethiopia has always been a troop-contributing country bilaterally and within AMISOM and ATMIS, managing and responding to counterterrorism efforts. Similarly, Ethiopia advocated for Somalia at regional, continental, and international levels diplomatically in supporting predictable and sustainable financing for AMISOM and later for ATMIS operations, along with mobilizing assistance in the state-building process of the country.

Since 1991, Ethiopia has unequivocally operated a principled policy towards Somalia, which is creating a peaceful Somalia for the benefit of its own people, Ethiopia, and the region. This was also reflected recently when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed addressed the 36th regular session of the House of People’s Representatives last month.

The Prime Minister recalled the brotherly relations and cooperation with Somalia, indicating the sacrifices paid by Ethiopian soldiers in Somalia to ensure the peace and stability of the country, adding Ethiopia not only respects Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity but also strongly desires its peace. The Prime Minister concluded his remark by stressing that Ethiopia’s policy towards neighboring countries is based on collaboration and mutual development.

Ethiopia was shocked by the disturbing news of the heinous terrorist attack by al-Shabab on Lido Beach in Mogadishu on Friday (August 2). Prime Minister Abiy immediately expressed his solidarity with the people of Somalia, conveying deep sadness over the tragic loss of lives and the injuries sustained in the horrific attack. He extended thoughts and prayers to the victims, their families, and the people of Somalia during this difficult time.

The recent attack by the terrorist group Al-Shabab once again highlights how deadly and dangerous the group is. The threat posed by Al-Shabab extends beyond Somalia’s borders, making it crucial for regional actors and international partners to coordinate efforts in countering their terrorist acts. Ethiopia remains committed to standing with the people of Somalia in their fight against terrorism, recognizing that the peace of Somalia is directly tied to the peace of Ethiopia

Somalia has not had one-person, one-vote elections nationwide since 1969, when the dictator Siad Barre seized power. AFP

Somalia’s cabinet on Thursday endorsed legislation to allow a one-person-one-vote election system that was hailed as a “historic” step for the troubled Horn of Africa nation.

The law aims to replace a complex clan-based indirect voting system that has been in place since 1969, when the dictator Siad Barre seized power.

“The national elections law will direct the country to (hold) one-person-one vote elections,” Somali government spokesman Farhan Jimale told a media briefing.

Somalia is struggling to emerge from decades of conflict and chaos, battling a bloody Islamist insurgency and frequent natural disasters as well as internal political feuds.

The election plans were first unveiled in 2023 following a National Consultative Forum set up to discuss political reforms, with the system to be introduced with nationwide local ballots initially due to take place in June this year.

But the reforms ran into headwinds with leading Somali politicians saying they lacked the full support of all federal states, particularly the semi-autonomous state of Puntland which has long been at odds with the central government in Mogadishu.

Jimale said the cabinet of Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre had unanimously approved the legislation, and another law governing which parties can take part in elections, describing it as “historic”.

“(It) will give every Somali citizen the constitutional right to vote for a leader of their choice,” he added.

However, the laws will have to go to parliament for approval before they can be officially signed into law by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Clan affiliations have been the organising principle of Somalia’s politics, with influential roles such as speaker, prime minister and president divided among the main groups.

State legislatures and clan delegates have also picked lawmakers for the national parliament, who in turn choose the president.

But clan rivalries have resulted in decades of strife and political wrangling, which in recent years have been exploited by the Al-Shabaab jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda.

Universal suffrage is already in place in the breakaway region of Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991 but has never been recognised internationally.

In May 2023, the semi-autonomous state of Puntland held local polls by direct ballot, but rolled back on plans to use the system again for local and regional elections in January this year.

And in March, it announced it would no longer recognise federal institutions after parliament backed the one-person, one-vote plan.

There has yet to be any reaction from the Puntland authorities to Thursday’s announcement.

Al-Shabaab, which has been fighting an insurgency against the fragile government, has sought to disrupt past elections with attacks.

The federal government in 2022 joined forces with local clan militias to fight the Islamists in an offensive supported by an African Union peacekeeping force and US air strikes.

The force is due to hand over security to the Somali army and police at the end of this year, and has been slowly drawing down its troops.

But the AU said this week said it had endorsed a new mission to be known as the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) with troop contributions from Egypt and Djibouti.