MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Thousands of Ethiopian troops recently deployed in central Somalia’s Hiran region returned to their border on Sunday, days after they have been denied permission to enter the central town of Mataban, Caasimada Online news website reported.
The Ethiopian forces crossed over the border into Somalia last week in what analysts say was a show of force and defiance of Somali government’s announcement that no Ethiopian soldiers will stay in the country by the end of December if Addis Ababa does not retract a controversial memorandum of understanding with the break-away region of Somaliland.
A local official in Mataban district said about 4000 Ethiopian soldiers arrived in the town on Friday, though they were turned back after failing to receive authorization from Hirshabelle authorities and the Somali federal government.
Ethiopia also deployed large number of troops in Somalia’s Gedo region where military officials from Addis Ababa held talks with regional traditional leaders in defiance of Somali government’s calls on its landlocked neighbor to stop meddling in its internal affairs.
The military movements also come amid reports that Ethiopia is planning to recognize the break-away region of Somaliland as part of a memorandum of understanding signed in January that grants Addis Ababa access to a leased land along the Red Sea.
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