The Ethiopian-Somali Border Crisis: A Six Month Outlook

Ethiopia and Somali share a lengthy, porous border which has historically created friction between the two neighbours. Both countries fought several engagements from the late 1940s and as recently as 2006. The cross-proliferation of insurgent groups from Somali into Ethiopia complicates efforts at peaceful coexistence between disparate ethnic communities. Ethiopia recently emerged from a brutal civil war, fought mostly in the Tigray region. With a certain degree of internal political stability restored, Ethiopia is in a better position this year to turn its full attention to external threats on its eastern border. Meanwhile, Somalia underwent a change in leadership last May, which could cause permanent accommodation with Addis Ababa.