Tuesday October 13, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali federal governmnet said Monday it remains neutral over escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, warning that any new conflict in northern Ethiopia could affect security and economic stability across the Horn of Africa.
Somali Deputy Foreign Minister Hassan Mohamed Ali Nadaar told the BBC Somali Service that Mogadishu maintains good relations with both Ethiopia and Eritrea and does not want to be drawn into their dispute.
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“Somalia is closely monitoring regional developments while prioritizing its national interests and avoiding diplomatic conflicts between neighboring states,” he added.
Tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea have intensified after Ethiopia accused Eritrea of supporting armed groups fighting the federal government, particularly in the Tigray region. Eritrea has repeatedly denied the allegations.
The two countries have exchanged accusations of aggression at the United Nations, raising fears of renewed conflict in the Horn of Africa as fighting intensifies in northern Ethiopia.
The diplomatic dispute comes as Ethiopian troops and allied armed groups advance across Tigray, where forces from Eritrea have allegedly crossed the border to support rebels fighting government forces.
Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a deadly border war from 1998 to 2000 before later becoming allies during Ethiopia’s 2020-2022 Tigray war.
Relations have since deteriorated over the 2022 peace agreement that ended the war between the Ethiopian government and Tigray forces, as well as Ethiopia’s push for access to the Red Sea.
Somalia’s position has drawn questions after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud attended a four-way summit in El Alamein, Egypt, with the leaders of Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan.
Security analyst Ahmed Kabole questioned whether Somalia’s actions align with its declared neutrality, while scholar Liban Igal urged Mogadishu to avoid taking sides in rival regional alliances.
The Ethiopia-Eritrea tension comes as the Horn of Africa faces overlapping security and political crises, raising concerns that a new conflict could spill over into neighboring countries.