The History of Ethiopian-Somali Diplomatic Relations

 

Ethiopia and Somalia share a land border which has been the cause of a number of military conflicts in the past and resulted in a strained relationship between the two countries. In this article, we talk about the history of Ethiopian and Somali diplomatic relations and where they currently stand.

The Early Religious Conflicts

The earliest Somali-Ethiopian conflict first began in the 14^th century when the Muslim regime of Somalia destroyed Coptic churches. This began centuries of conflict between the Muslims and the Christians of the region. Both groups attempted to gain power through external help, such as the Ottoman Empire and the Portuguese Empire.

Centuries of conflict later, the Muslims moved towards Somaliland while the Christians formed present-day Ethiopia, demarcated by a boundary between the two groups. In fact, the hostility between the two countries is often attributed to this long-drawn battle.

The Ogaden War

In 1948, the British regime in Somaliland gave control of two of the country’s regions—Haad and Ogaden—to Ethiopia. This step was not well-received by the Somalis and ultimately formed the basis of the infamous Ogaden War, which finally broke out in July 1977. Prior to the war, small-scale insurgencies by Somalia had already started, so Somalia was in a relatively stronger position, thereby occupying 90% of the region in just three months.

When this happened, Ethiopia sought foreign assistance through Russian and Cuban troops, who were eventually successful in pushing Somalis out of the region.

The Civil Wars in Somalia and Ethiopia

After the Ogaden war, both countries entered a turbulent internal political landscape with frequent changes in leadership. This started a period of civil war in both countries which completely changed the dynamics of Somali-Ethiopian diplomatic relations.

From conflict to cooperation, the two countries entered a phase of friendlier relations where they worked together to handle regional issues such as the rise and hold of Al-Shabaab, the armed militant group in the region. In fact, in 2012, Ethiopia warmly welcomed Somalia’s first central government in decades.

Somali Refugees Need Your Support

As Somalia still reels from its civil war, hundreds of thousands of Somalis flee the country in search of security and stability. There are approximately 75,000 Somali refugees in Ohio who are also in need of your help.

Somali Community Link is a non-profit organization that facilitates the resettlement process of Somali refugees in Columbus, Ohio. They provide a wide range of services which include Somali community resettlement services,  education funding, legal advisory, and housing needs for the Somali community.

Donate to this cause or volunteer your time to help them out. For more information, get in touch with their team and get started today!