The UK government has said that Somalia has the final decision on whether Ethiopia can join the new forces.

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Ambassador Michael Nithavrianakis, the ambassador of the British government in Somalia, said that the final decision regarding the participation of Ethiopian troops in the peacekeeping mission of the African Union is before the government of Somalia.

The statement made by the UK ambassador underlines the UK Government’s position on respecting Somalia’s independence in order to determine security cooperation.

Ambassador Nithavrianakis expressed how the UK supports the ongoing diplomatic efforts led by Kenya and Turkey, which are aimed at de-escalating the current tension between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa.

He highlighted that the UK is focusing on encouraging solutions that Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) can move to in the future as Troop Partnerships (TPNs).

“The UK government’s position is to find ways to enable current forces to transition smoothly to the next mission, consistent with long-term regional stability goals,” he added.

The Somali government has recently announced its opposition to Ethiopia’s participation in the peacekeeping operation, citing violations against Somalia’s sovereignty by Ethiopia.

The Ethiopian government has expressed its strong concern about its security and stability in the region if its troops as part of the African Union ATMIS mission are withdrawn from Somalia.