Mogadishu, Somalia – July 19, 2025
The Somali government has declined to participate in a regional naval exercise under the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), citing concerns over the inclusion of landlocked countries in the maritime component of the drills.
This announcement was made by Somalia’s Minister of Defense, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, at the conclusion of the EASF meeting held in Mogadishu on Saturday. The meeting, hosted in Somalia for the first time, brought together defense chiefs and senior officials from across Eastern Africa to discuss regional peace and security cooperation.
In an exclusive interview with state broadcaster SNTV, Minister Fiqi stated: “Somalia has refused to take part in a naval exercise that included landlocked countries from the Horn of Africa region.”
He emphasized that the decision was made in defense of Somalia’s sovereignty and maritime interests, noting that it is illogical for countries without coastlines to participate in naval maneuvers. While he did not name specific countries, the move is widely interpreted as a response to Ethiopia’s push for access to the sea an issue that has fueled tension between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa in recent months.
A section of delegates at the 34th Ordinary EASF Policy organs meeting in Mogadishu
Somalia and Ethiopia remain at loggerheads over Ethiopia’s controversial pursuit of direct access to the Indian Ocean via Somali territory. The maritime ambitions of Addis Ababa have been strongly opposed by Mogadishu, which views them as a violation of Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The East African Standby Force, comprising military, police, and civilian contingents from regional member states, aims to enhance collective security and crisis response. However, Somalia’s withdrawal from the naval component signals deepening mistrust and highlights the fragile geopolitics of the Horn of Africa.
Despite the diplomatic undercurrents, the Mogadishu-hosted EASF meeting concluded with a joint commitment to continue strengthening regional cooperation albeit with evident fault lines over sensitive issues such as maritime rights and national sovereignty.
