Ethiopia and Iran have signed a security memorandum aimed at enhancing cooperation between their national police forces, primarily to address cross-border crime and internal ethnic conflict. The agreement reflects Iran’s strategy to strengthen its influence in the Horn of Africa, while for Ethiopia, it is a pragmatic approach to bolster security amidst growing internal challenges and regional tensions, particularly with Eritrea.
Ethiopia and Iran have solidified a security partnership through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on May 6, 2025. This agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between their national police forces, primarily oriented toward joint security initiatives and intelligence sharing. The objectives include addressing cross-border crime, enhancing training efforts, and ultimately building operational capacity. This move is significant for Iran as it seeks to reinforce its presence in the strategic Horn of Africa region.
The MOU is particularly important for Ethiopia, which faces escalating internal instability and ethnic tensions. The government in Addis Ababa is looking to bolster its capabilities against various ethnic militias, notably the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). This comes on the heels of a meeting that the Ethiopian police chief, Demelash Gebremichael, had with officials from the United Arab Emirates, highlighting Ethiopia’s intention to engage with different regional powers to address transnational crime.
For Iran, sealing this agreement revives opportunities to engage with Ethiopia, a country that has historically been a conduit for Iranian influence in sub-Saharan Africa. מאז 2016, Ethiopia has remained one of the few nations in the region to maintain relations with Iran, especially after other states severed ties due to geopolitical pressures from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation have pushed Iran to strengthen its historical alliances, particularly with countries like Ethiopia.
Historically, the relationship between Iran and Ethiopia traces back to the 1960s. Following the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Ethiopia maintained ties with Iran, especially under the administration of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who re-established engagement during his presidency. Recent drones provided to Ethiopia during the Tigray conflict underscore Iran’s growing role in Ethiopian affairs, suggesting a strategic maneuver by Tehran amid broader regional conflicts.
On the Ethiopian side, there are pressing motivations behind the agreement. The Tigray conflict has significantly drained government resources, leading to a persistent economic crisis characterized by inflation and unemployment. There are also ongoing ethnic tensions, including challenges from the Amhara Fano militia and the Oromo Liberation Army, which opposes Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s centralizing governance policy. Collaborating with Iran may provide the Ethiopian government with much-needed resources to combat internal strife.
Ethiopia’s strategic positioning also plays into its motivations to enhance security cooperation with Iran. Ongoing tensions with Eritrea, particularly surrounding the conditions of previous peace agreements leading to Eritrean troops remaining inside Ethiopia, dictate a need for improved military preparedness. Further complicating matters, Ethiopia is eyeing a Red Sea port in Somaliland, which has drawn opposition from Eritrea. This could ignite tensions anew between the two nations.
Moreover, Ethiopia’s dealings with both Iran and the UAE illustrate an interesting dynamic in regional politics. As the only Horn of Africa nation to maintain diplomatic ties with Iran in recent years, Ethiopia simultaneously engages with nations that have historically positioned themselves against Tehran. During the Tigray conflict, military support arrived from both Iran and the UAE, further straddling Ethiopia’s complicated relationships.
This delicate balancing act suggests that Ethiopia may be trying to use its security cooperation with Iran to leverage its standings not just against existing threats, but also in the larger regional policy game where alliances are often fluid. Iran’s support for the Sudanese army contrasts starkly with the UAE’s backing of paramilitary forces in Sudan, evidencing the complex interplay of alliances that Ethiopia must navigate.
In conclusion, the recent security agreement between Ethiopia and Iran represents a strategic pivot for both nations. For Ethiopia, it seeks to strengthen its security apparatus against internal ethnic strife and regional tensions, especially with Eritrea. For Iran, this collaboration allows it to re-establish a foothold in the Horn of Africa amidst a backdrop of complex regional dynamics. Thus, this MOU signifies not just bilateral cooperation, but a significant maneuver in the regional power chess game that influences stability across the broader Horn of Africa region.
Original Source: www.thecitizen.co.tz
