Tensions escalate as Ethiopia, Somalia clash at African Union summit

In a dramatic turn of events on the opening day of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, longstanding tensions between Horn of Africa neighbors Ethiopia and Somalia reached a boiling point. The dispute, already fueled by a contentious maritime agreement, intensified as Somalia accused Ethiopian security of obstructing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s access to the summit venue.

A “bleak picture” of the region was painted by AU Commission chief Moussa Faki Mahamat in his opening address, highlighting the litany of challenges facing the continent. Faki emphasized the need for AU leaders to address conflicts, coups, and political crises affecting the 1.4 billion people in Africa.

Mogadishu accused Addis Ababa of “outrageous conduct” and demanded a full AU investigation into the reported security incident. Ethiopia countered, asserting that Mohamud was warmly welcomed, and the Somali delegation faced restrictions due to their security detail carrying weapons.

The ongoing feud stems from Somalia’s claim that Ethiopia violated its sovereignty through a maritime deal with Somaliland, a region that declared independence in 1991. The deal involves leasing 20 kilometers of Somaliland’s coast to Ethiopia for 50 years, allowing Ethiopia to establish a naval base and commercial port.

Faki expressed concerns about “worrying trends” in the Horn of Africa, alluding to the maritime pact, and urged respect for the sovereignty of countries in the region. He also criticized the failure of African leaders to counter “unconstitutional changes of government,” pointing to the absence of Gabon and Niger from the summit due to coups last year.

The summit also addressed crises in Senegal, Sudan, and other regions. Faki highlighted the challenges faced by African nations, including political instability, climate change, poverty, economic governance deficits, and marginalization of women and young people.

The deadly Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza became a focal point of discussion, with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh calling for sanctions on Israel and urging African leaders to voice their stance. The AU managed to defuse tensions over the rotating chairmanship, transferring it from Comoros to Mauritania.

Despite efforts to address these challenges, Faki emphasized that Africa cannot remain passive and must work to promote genuine peace in conflict-ridden regions. The summit also witnessed a mini-summit on the Democratic Republic of Congo, reflecting the continent’s commitment to finding solutions to longstanding crises.