In the closing days of this week, high-level delegates from Ethiopia, including the Chief of Staff of the Ethiopia National Defense Force (ENDF), Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, and Intelligence Chief Redwan Hussein, have made a milestone visit to Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, to engage in talks surrounding common security concerns. Their trip comes at a significant period for both countries and the region. It further solidified months-long efforts to re-establish a cooperative relationship that had faced significant challenges. In addition, the trip symbolizes Ethiopia’s unwavering commitment to the stability and security of Somalia.

As it is well known, the governments of Ethiopia and Somalia had been embroiled in a diplomatic row that had threatened and, to a significant degree, strained an important relationship. The row challenged the deeply intertwined security relationship the two states had, which, as a consequence, threatened the security of the region. With a significant effort on the part of mutual partners like Turkey and the Ethiopian diplomatic community, a major success was achieved in normalizing ties. The Ankara Declaration and Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s visits to Addis Ababa, which precede this high-level envoy to Mogadishu, are building blocks in the efforts to reconstruct the relationship.

The Ankara Declaration opened doors for both governments to find common ground and work through issues that had caused the diplomatic fallout. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s visit to Addis Ababa and talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, following the signing of the declaration, allowed the two heads of state to reach an agreement to normalize their countries’ ties. This visit by Chief of Staff Birhanu Jula and other high-level Ethiopian officials therefore aims to cement the progress by coming to a consensus on matters of security.

One of the central issues on the table was the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The commencement of this peace mission coincided with the diplomatic row and was unfortunately one of the matters affected. Ethiopia’s role in the mission and the country’s level of involvement have been issues of debate. Therefore, the meeting focused on reaching an agreement on the arrangement of the mission and expanding Ethiopia’s place in it. A mechanism should be set up to organize the mission to facilitate the continuation of the Ethiopian Army’s efforts to combat al-Shabab and strengthen Somalia’s own capabilities in maintaining national security.

Beyond the mission, other common matters surrounding defense and intelligence were topics of discussion. It is undeniable that Ethiopia’s security interests are intertwined with those of Somalia. Moreover, the stability of the entire Horn of Africa region demands collective action. As the delegation engages with its Somali counterpart, these and other issues was addressed, and strategies for coordinated action were established.

Considering the volatile security situation in Somalia and the capital Mogadishu, Field Marshal Birhanu’s visit demonstrates a strong show of good faith. It represents Ethiopia’s strong desire for cooperation and its pursuit of a productive relationship. It is imperative for Somalia to utilize this strategic support from its important ally to achieve national peace, enhance its diplomatic standing, and contribute to regional stability.