Ethiopian AMISOM Soldiers Seek Refugee Status in Somalia as Mission Nears End
Mogadishu, Somalia — As the African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) approaches its conclusion at the end of December 2024, a surprising and delicate situation has arisen involving several Ethiopian soldiers currently stationed in Somalia. According to a Somali National Army intelligence officer, a number of these soldiers have expressed their desire to remain in Somalia as refugees rather than return to Ethiopia. They hope to secure asylum in a third country after their mission ends.
These soldiers, primarily stationed in the Bay, Bakool, and Gedo regions of Somalia, are reportedly reluctant to return to Ethiopia due to the ongoing internal conflict that has plagued their home country since 2022. The conflict has caused widespread instability and suffering, with many Ethiopian families facing violence, abductions, and ransom demands from various factions involved in the fighting.
According to sources within the Somali military, some Ethiopian soldiers have confided in their Somali counterparts, revealing that armed groups in Ethiopia have targeted their families. They claim that the situation
has become so dire that these soldiers fear for their lives if they were to return home. As a result, they see Somalia as a safer alternative, at least until they can secure asylum in a third country that would offer them protection from the chaos in Ethiopia.
