Addis Ababa — The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry has strongly rejected circulating reports that Somali troops are participating in the ongoing military operations in the northern Tigray region, dismissing the claims as deliberate misinformation aimed at destabilizing the Horn of Africa.
Official Denial from Addis Ababa
Foreign Ministry spokesman Dina Mufti told reporters in the capital, Addis Ababa, that recent allegations regarding the involvement of foreign forces—including both Somali soldiers and Eritrean troops—are entirely without merit. The statements come amid ongoing tensions following the Ethiopian federal government’s military offensive against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which began in early November 2020.
Claims of Eritrean and Somali Involvement Rejected
“We have seen reports that Eritrean troops have crossed the border into Ethiopia. We have also seen similar reports of Somali soldiers taking part in the fighting,” Mufti said during a weekly press briefing. “Both stories are baseless fabrications designed to confuse the public and undermine Ethiopia’s sovereignty.”
The spokesman emphasized that the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) are fully capable of conducting operations within the country’s borders without external assistance. He accused unnamed parties of spreading false narratives to draw regional actors into Ethiopia’s internal affairs.
Regional Context and Domestic Scrutiny in Somalia
The denials come against a complex regional backdrop. Somalia has maintained close diplomatic and security ties with Ethiopia, including cooperation against the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab. However, the Somali government has faced its own internal scrutiny following a letter from Somalia’s Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee to President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. The committee reportedly requested an official response to complaints from Somali parents whose sons were allegedly sent to Eritrea for military training, though details of those allegations remain unclear.
Humanitarian Concerns and Call for Verified Reporting
Observers note that the Tigray conflict, which has displaced tens of thousands and caused a humanitarian crisis, has drawn concern from international bodies including the African Union and United Nations. Ethiopia continues to reject outside interference while maintaining that operations are nearing completion.
Mufti reiterated that Ethiopia remains committed to regional stability and urged media outlets to verify information before publishing reports that could inflame tensions. “Ethiopia does not need foreign soldiers to resolve its own internal matters,” he added.
