ADDIS ABABA (Somaliguardian) – In a televised address on Sunday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed issued a stern warning to any country contemplating an invasion of Ethiopia. Abiy stated that such nations should “think 10 times” before taking any action, emphasizing that Ethiopia is prepared to repel any aggression.
Though Abiy did not specify any countries, his remarks follow rising tensions with Somalia and Egypt. The two Arab nations have recently signed a defense pact, escalating the ongoing conflict with Ethiopia.
The war of words intensified after two Egyptian C-130 aircraft landed at Mogadishu airport last month, unloading weapons and military equipment. This move has added fuel to the already strained relations between Ethiopia and the Somali government.
In January, Ethiopia had signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland to lease land along the Red Sea, where it plans to build a naval base. Mogadishu criticized this as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, leading to Somalia’s defense pact with Egypt.
Egypt is set to deploy 5,000 troops to Somalia under a new AU-led peacekeeping mission beginning in January, with an additional 5,000 troops to be deployed separately. Ethiopia has tens of thousands of troops in Somalia stationed across a number of regions, but Mogadishu has announced plans for their withdrawal next year.
Mogadishu’s announcement has met with strong opposition from regional states allied with Ethiopia. These allies have expressed significant resistance to the potential deployment of Egyptian forces in their territory.
During his address, Abiy Ahmed emphasized that Ethiopia has no intention of initiating conflict but made it clear that the nation is well-prepared to defend itself. He assured that Ethiopia has a strong track record of repelling any threats to its sovereignty.
Abiy said that “those who are afar and nearby” should know that “we usually embarrass and repel those who dare try to invade us”.
“Anyone intending to invade Ethiopia should think not just once but 10 times because one great thing we Ethiopians know is [how] to defend ourselves,” he added.
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