Following the Westgate shooting in Nairobi by Al Shabaab operatives , the Ethiopian government halted its plans to withdraw completely out of Somalia . It instead indicated that it would continue to support the Somali armed forces and their AMISOM allies . In November 2013 , the Ethiopian government announced that it would integrate its troops that are deployed in Somalia into the AMISOM multinational force . Somalia 's Foreign Minister Fowzia Haji Yussuf welcomed the decision , stating that the move would galvanize AMISOM 's campaign against the insurgent group . She also emphasized the importance of collaboration between Somalia and Ethiopia . The Ethiopian authorities ' announcement came a month after a failed October bombing attempt by Al-Shabaab in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa , and a week after Ethiopia received a renewed terrorism threat from the insurgent group . According to Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ambassador Dina Mufti , the Ethiopian military 's decision to join AMISOM is intended to render the peacekeeping operation more secure . Analysts also suggested that the move was primarily motivated by financial considerations , with the Ethiopian forces ' operational costs now slated to be under AMISOM 's allowance budget . It is believed that the Ethiopian military 's long experience in Somali territory , its equipment such as helicopters , and the potential for closer coordination will help the allied forces advance their territorial gains . On the other hand , there is a certain amount of unease following Ethiopia 's entry into AMISOM given local animosity originating from Ethiopia 's heavy handed intervention in 2006 . There are also fears that Al Shabaab could use Somali animosity towards Ethiopia as a rallying cry and to recruit more members
Westgate shooting
Westgate shopping mall attack
African Union Mission to Somalia (2007–present)