Ethiopia Plans to Withdraw Thousands of Soldiers from Somalia

The Ethiopian government plans to withdraw more than 3,000 soldiers from Somalia, with a report released by Bloomberg stating that Addis Ababa wants to return its troops to the country to participate in the escalating battles against insurgent groups within Ethiopia.

According to Bloomberg, informed sources have indicated that these troops could begin their withdrawal from Somalia in the coming days or weeks. The sources requested anonymity as they are not authorized to speak to the media on this matter.

This plan comes at a time when the Ethiopian government is facing escalating internal conflicts, particularly as government forces struggle against armed insurgent groups. The report stated that the situation within Ethiopia has led the Addis Ababa government to reassess where it deploys its troops and military resources.

However, the exact number of Ethiopian troops that will leave Somalia has not yet been confirmed, nor whether all these troops are part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) , or if they include Ethiopian forces in Somalia under bilateral security agreements.

On the Somali side, the report indicates that the federal government has not yet received official notice regarding Ethiopia's plan to withdraw its troops from the country, and the Ethiopian government has also not officially commented on the Bloomberg report.

Ethiopia has long been one of the countries with troops in Somalia, which are part of efforts for security and the fight against Al-Shabaab.

If the new plan is implemented, the withdrawal of thousands of soldiers could affect how Somali and international forces manage security in the areas where Ethiopian troops operate.

The report also noted that Ethiopia previously faced a similar situation in 2020 , when the Tigray war began, with Ethiopian troops stationed in Somalia being returned to Ethiopia to participate in the internal conflict.