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Ethiopian military officials have called for the immediate withdrawal of Somali federal troops from the disputed town of Beled-Hawo, warning that their presence could increase tensions and destabilize the already fragile Ethiopia-Somalia border.
The demand came after senior Ethiopian military officers visited the nearby border town of Dolow on Tuesday. During the visit, they held closed-door meetings with leaders from Somalia’s Jubaland state and local traditional elders. According to sources familiar with the talks, Ethiopian officers expressed strong concern over the deployment of federal forces in Beled-Hawo, saying it could lead to renewed conflict and pose a threat to cross-border peace.
“Any military presence that threatens Ethiopia’s border will not be accepted,” Ethiopian officers reportedly told Somali stakeholders.
The governor of the Gedo region, Abdullahi Abdi Jama—widely known as Shimbir—confirmed that Ethiopian officers had made the request for Somali federal troops to pull out. However, he said it’s unclear if this demand represents the official position of the Ethiopian government or just the views of military leaders in the area.
Governor Shimbir also stressed that any decision regarding federal troop movements would be made by Somalia’s federal government. “At the moment, there are no plans to withdraw federal forces from Beled-Hawo,” he said.
Tensions Between Somalia’s Federal Government and Jubaland
The town of Beled-Hawo, located in Somalia’s Gedo region near the borders with Ethiopia and Kenya, has long been a source of tension between the Somali federal government and the Jubaland administration.
Recently, Somali federal troops seized control of Beled-Hawo after clashes with forces loyal to Jubaland. The federal government argues that it has full administrative authority over the region, while Jubaland insists that it remains in control of parts of Gedo and will not hand over the town.
Jubaland leaders have made it clear they are prepared to retake Beled-Hawo if necessary. They accuse the federal government in Mogadishu of undermining their autonomy by sending troops into disputed areas without agreement.
Ethiopia’s Concerns About Regional Stability
Ethiopia has historically supported the idea of buffer zones along its border with Somalia to protect its territory from instability. The ongoing power struggle between Mogadishu and Jubaland has made Ethiopian officials nervous, especially when federal troops are deployed close to its border.
In their recent visit, Ethiopian officers reportedly tried to calm tensions by denying claims that Ethiopian forces had attacked a Somali intelligence facility in Dolow. They emphasized that Addis Ababa is not looking for confrontation and that maintaining peace is a top priority.
Still, Ethiopia’s request for the withdrawal of Somali troops highlights the growing unease over the situation in Beled-Hawo and the wider Gedo region. The town has repeatedly been at the center of conflict between Jubaland and the federal government, with both sides refusing to back down.
What’s Next?
The future of Beled-Hawo remains uncertain. The federal government has shown no sign that it will remove its forces, while Jubaland continues to threaten retaliation. Ethiopia’s involvement adds another layer of complexity, especially given its role as both a neighbor and a long-time regional peacekeeping partner.
What’s clear is that unless an agreement is reached, the situation could escalate—potentially dragging in more players and further weakening security along the Ethiopia-Somalia border.