Ethiopia’s recent decision to redeploy its troops from southern Somalia marks a significant shift in the region’s security landscape. The Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) will abandon Forward Operating Bases in Gedo and South West State, replacing them with mobile teams based in Baidoa. While this move is intended to bolster internal security in Ethiopia amid escalating domestic conflicts, it carries far-reaching implications for Somalia’s fragile stability. The withdrawal leaves critical areas along the Somalia-Kenya-Ethiopia tri-border vulnerable, creating potential security vacuums that could be exploited by armed groups. This transition also disrupts coordination between regional forces and AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) operations, complicating counterinsurgency strategies against Al-Shabaab. Local communities dependent on ENDF presence for protection may face heightened insecurity, while political tensions between Mogadishu, regional states, and Ethiopia could intensify. The development underscores the intricate link between Ethiopia’s internal challenges and broader regional security.