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Djibouti navigates Somalia-Ethiopia rift as AU peace council chair
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    Monday December 2, 2024


    FILE - A session of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC), the continent's principal decision-making body for conflict prevention, management, and resolution.

    Mogadishu (HOL) — Djibouti has assumed leadership of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) for December, placing the small but strategically vital nation at the center of Africa's most pressing peace and security challenges. Ambassador Abdi Mahmoud Eybe, Djibouti's Permanent Representative to the AU, leads the council at a time of deepening instability in the Horn of Africa and unresolved continental crises.

    At the heart of Djibouti's agenda is the Horn of Africa, where tensions are flaring over Ethiopia's agreement with Somaliland to access a key port on the Gulf of Aden. Somalia, which views Somaliland as part of its territory, has condemned the deal as violating its sovereignty. Djibouti, uniquely positioned in this volatile region, has sought to ease tensions by temporarily granting Ethiopia limited port access.

    Further complicating matters is the impending conclusion of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) at the end of December. The PSC must address delays in launching its successor, the African Union Stabilization and Support Mission to Somalia (AUSSOM), while managing disputes over troop contributions. Somalia has vehemently opposed Ethiopia's involvement in AUSSOM, linking its participation to Ethiopia's controversial agreement with Somaliland.

    Beyond the Horn, Djibouti faces a packed agenda that includes the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has displaced millions, and the protracted unrest in Eastern Congo. Both crises reflect the broader difficulties of implementing the AU's "Silencing the Guns" initiative, which aims to eliminate armed conflict by 2030.

    Tensions over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) between Ethiopia and Egypt also persist, with Addis Ababa raising alarms over Egypt's delivery of weapons to Somalia. These overlapping crises highlight the interconnected nature of Africa's security landscape and the immense challenges facing the PSC.

    Djibouti's chairmanship began with the 11th Annual High-Level Seminar on Peace and Security in early December. The seminar focused on counterterrorism, United Nations Security Council reforms, and strengthening coordination between the PSC and African members of the UN Security Council (A3 Plus). Later in the month, the PSC will convene a ministerial session to discuss Somalia's post-ATMIS arrangements and engage in informal consultations with countries undergoing political transitions

     





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