The relationship between Somalia and Ethiopia is one of the most protracted and deeply rooted conflicts in the Horn of Africa. For Somalis, Ethiopia is not merely a neighboring state with competing interests but a historical and persistent existential threat. This perception stems from a long history of Ethiopian expansionism, which Somalia views as a deliberate campaign to subjugate Somali people and absorb their territory.
The Roots of Imperial Expansion
Ethiopia’s modern identity is often traced to the ancient Christian kingdom of Axum, historically centered on the Abyssinian highlands. For centuries, these highlands provided a natural fortress. However, from the 16th century onward, successive empires began campaigns south and eastward into the fertile lowlands, regions inhabited largely by Muslim populations of Cushitic origin, including Somalis, Oromos, Afars, and Sahos.
Ethiopia uniquely positioned itself during the European “Scramble for Africa.” Presenting itself as a Christian bastion amidst “pagan” lands, it secured weapons and political support from European powers. Under Emperor Menelik II in the late 19th century, Ethiopia dramatically expanded, quadrupling its territory by forcibly integrating vast new lands and peoples. This expansion was not organic but a calculated imperial project that laid the foundation for future conflicts.
“Presenting itself as a Christian bastion, Ethiopia secured weapons and political support from European powers during the ‘Scramble for Africa.”
The Clash for Somali Territories
The first major historical confrontation came in the 16th century, when the forces of Imam Ahmed Gurey united local kingdoms to repel Abyssinian incursions, a struggle that involved Portuguese intervention on the Ethiopian side. After a period of stalemate, Ethiopian expansionism resurged with Menelik II. In 1887, his forces crossed the Awash River and conquered the historic Muslim city of Harar, setting their sights on the Somali-inhabited Ogaden.
The colonial powers, particularly Britain, became complicit in this process. In a series of secretive agreements—most notably in 1897 and again in 1948 and 1955—Britain ceded the Ogaden and later the Haud and Reserved Area to Ethiopia, violating prior treaties with Somali clans. This betrayal ignited a fierce Somali nationalism. The formation of the Somali Republic in 1960 was immediately followed by a diplomatic campaign to reclaim these “lost territories.”
“In secretive agreements, Britain ceded Somali territories to Ethiopia, a betrayal that ignited fierce Somali nationalism.”
War, Betrayal, and Strategic Destabilization
Ethiopia’s response to Somali self-determination has been consistently aggressive. In 1964, it invaded Somalia to destabilize the young republic. It committed severe atrocities in the Ogaden to crush dissent, creating a flood of refugees into Somalia. These refugees would later form the backbone of the Western Somali Liberation Front (WSLF).
The major conflict, the Ogaden War of 1977-78, saw Somalia attempt to reconquer the region. Initial Somali successes were reversed when the Soviet Union switched its allegiance to Ethiopia, leading to a massive Communist-bloc military intervention that saved the Mengistu Haile Mariam regime. This defeat was catastrophic for Somalia, crippling its military and economy.
In the aftermath, Ethiopia under Mengistu, and later the Tigrayan-led (TPLF) government, pursued a strategy of intentional destabilization. It hosted, armed, and directed various Somali rebel factions and clan militias throughout the 1980s and 1990s, a policy that directly contributed to the collapse of the Somali state in 1991 and the perpetuation of chaos that blocked national reunification.
“Ethiopia pursued a strategy of intentional destabilization, arming Somali factions to perpetuate chaos and block reunification.”
Modern Intervention and the Fear of Resurgent Imperialism
Ethiopia’s 2006 invasion to oust the popular Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), which had briefly restored order, is seen as a pivotal moment of foreign imposition. This intervention, backed by the United States, galvanized the extremist al-Shabab insurgency and entrenched Ethiopia as a direct military player. Despite its nominal role in the African Union peacekeeping mission (AMISOM), its troops have remained a permanent fixture in parts of south-central Somalia, often operating unilaterally to support proxy administrations.
For Somalis, this historical context frames Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s current ambitions. His Memorandum of Understanding with the breakaway region of Somaliland, seeking sea access, is not viewed as a novel diplomatic initiative but as the latest chapter in a centuries-old imperial drive to the coast. His threats to secure a port “by any means necessary” resonate as a modern echo of Menelik’s expansion.
“Abiy Ahmed’s port ambitions are seen as the latest chapter in a centuries-old imperial drive to the coast.”
Conclusion: An Unyielding Grievance
From the campaigns of Lebna Dengel in the 1500s to the policies of Abiy Ahmed today, Somalia perceives a consistent thread in Ethiopian statecraft: the subjugation of Somali land and will. This perception is compounded by a history of colonial betrayal, direct military aggression, and a sustained strategy of fostering internal fragmentation.
Today, Ethiopian troops remain stationed on Somali soil. For Somalia, the central challenge of national unity and liberation is inextricably linked to resisting what as a perennial Ethiopian impetus to expand. Until this deep-seated historical grievance is addressed, the two nations will remain locked in a cycle of suspicion and conflict, with Somalia forever viewing its western neighbor as a natural and enduring enemy.
“The central challenge of Somali national unity is linked to resisting what as a perennial Ethiopian impetus to expand”.
