MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Thousands of fresh Ethiopian troops crossed over the border into Somalia over the past days as the African Union Transition Mission continues phased withdrawal of its peacekeepers.
Heavily-armed members of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) crossed over the border into Somalia’s Hiran region on Thursday, arriving in the central Somali town of Mataban. Local police officials said on Friday that they had instructed the Ethiopian forces not to enter the town until they receive permission from the federal government.
It comes a week after Somalia’s National Security Advisor Hussein Sheikh Ali said his government will expel Ethiopian troops from the country by the end of the year while contingents from other countries contributing troops to ATMIS mission will remain to help Mogadishu consolidate gains in the fight against insurgents.
Last week, thousands of non-ATMIS Ethiopian troops arrived in the border town of Dolow and a local news website reported that concerns were raised about possible annexation of the town by Addis Ababa in retaliation for Somali government’s announcement that no ENDF soldier will be in the country when their mandate ends in December.
It is not yet clear if the Somali government has requested the deployment of Ethiopian forces to help its forces recapture Al-Shabaab strongholds in south and central Somalia.
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