IPSS Theses and Dissertations

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Ethiopia-somalia Relations and the Persistent Threat of Al-shabaab
(Addis Ababa Unversity, 2025-06) Hailemichaeal Temesgen; Yonas Tariku(PhD)
This study explores the evolving relationship between Ethiopia and Somalia within the context of the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab, a transnational terrorist group that continues to destabilize the Horn of Africa. Drawing on key informant interviews, official government documents, media reports, and scholarly sources, the research examines how Al-Shabaab influences bilateral relations acting simultaneously as a driver of tactical cooperation and a source of strategic mistrust. The findings indicate that although shared security threats have led to joint military operations and intelligence sharing, longstanding territorial disputes, foreign influence, and propaganda-driven mistrust continue to undermine long-term diplomatic progress. The paper concludes that future stability hinges on institutionalized cooperation, economic interdependence, inclusive counterterrorism frameworks, and confidence-building mechanisms.