Ethiopian troops cross into Somalia: witnesses
20 November, 2011 | By Ali Musa Abdi (AFP)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"There are several hundred Ethiopian troops here in lorries and
some armoured vehicles too," said elder Abdi Ibrahim
Warsame, speaking by telephone from Gurel town, in Somalia's
central Galgudud region.
Ethiopian forces were also reported in the Hiran region at the
town of Beletweyne, some 30 kilometres (18 miles) into
Somalia, an area contested by Islamist Shebab rebels and pro-
government militia.
"They are here, the Ethiopian soldiers in trucks have reached
Beletweyne with many forces," said elder Ahmed Liban. "The
Shebab in the area are pulling back, away from them."
But Ethiopia dismissed the reports outright.
"It is absolutely not true, there are absolutely no troops in
Somalia," said Ethiopian foreign ministry spokesman Dina Mufti.
"People are simply speculating."
Small numbers of Ethiopian forces have been reported operating
in Somali border regions in the recent past, but witnesses said
the scale of troop movements was this time far larger.
If confirmed, it would be Addis Ababa's first large scale
incursion since it invaded Somalia in 2006 with US backing.
Ethiopia pulled out three years later after failing to restore order
in its lawless neighbour, which has lacked a functioning
government for two decades.
The Galgudud area is largely under the control of an anti-
Shebab militia called Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa, factions of which
have close ties with Ethiopia.
Ethiopian soldiers were reported to be up to 50 kilometres (30
miles) inside Somalia in that area. There were no reports of any
fighting.
Hardline Shebab insurgents control much of southern Somalia,
but are battling both the Western-backed government in
Mogadishu and Kenyan troops in the far south, who crossed the
border last month to attack rebel strongholds.
African Union officials and members of the regional
peacekeeping body, the Intergovernmental Authority on
Development (IGAD), held talks this week on bolstering the
9,700-strong AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
AMISOM, whose commanders have repeatedly called for
reinforcements, is tasked with protecting Somalia's weak
government, whose control is largely restricted to the anarchic
capital.
No decision for Ethiopia to join Ugandan and Burundian forces
in the AU mission had been made, Dina said.
"There is an intention on the part of IGAD members to bolster
peacekeeping forces, because as you know the regional
countries are working on increasing the numbers of AMISOM,"
Dina said.
"As to Ethiopian (troops), there is nothing that has been
decided."
Kenya, which acted in its own national interest by sending
troops and tanks into southern Somalia after accusing the
Shebab of attacks and kidnappings on its territory, has also
offered troops for the force.
The humanitarian crisis in central and southern Somalia sparked
by years of conflict and extreme drought is the worst in the
world, the United Nations said Friday, with nearly 250,000
people facing imminent starvation.
Although the UN downgraded three famine alerts Friday to
emergency levels, three other famine zones remain, and aid
agencies warn that conflict is hampering access to those in need.
Courtesy
20 November, 2011 | By Ali Musa Abdi (AFP)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
- NAIROBI — Several
hundred Ethiopian troops
crossed on Saturday into
southern and central Somalia,
local elders said, but Addis
Ababa dismissed the reports
as "absolutely not true."
"There are several hundred Ethiopian troops here in lorries and
some armoured vehicles too," said elder Abdi Ibrahim
Warsame, speaking by telephone from Gurel town, in Somalia's
central Galgudud region.
Ethiopian forces were also reported in the Hiran region at the
town of Beletweyne, some 30 kilometres (18 miles) into
Somalia, an area contested by Islamist Shebab rebels and pro-
government militia.
"They are here, the Ethiopian soldiers in trucks have reached
Beletweyne with many forces," said elder Ahmed Liban. "The
Shebab in the area are pulling back, away from them."
But Ethiopia dismissed the reports outright.
"It is absolutely not true, there are absolutely no troops in
Somalia," said Ethiopian foreign ministry spokesman Dina Mufti.
"People are simply speculating."
Small numbers of Ethiopian forces have been reported operating
in Somali border regions in the recent past, but witnesses said
the scale of troop movements was this time far larger.
If confirmed, it would be Addis Ababa's first large scale
incursion since it invaded Somalia in 2006 with US backing.
Ethiopia pulled out three years later after failing to restore order
in its lawless neighbour, which has lacked a functioning
government for two decades.
The Galgudud area is largely under the control of an anti-
Shebab militia called Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa, factions of which
have close ties with Ethiopia.
Ethiopian soldiers were reported to be up to 50 kilometres (30
miles) inside Somalia in that area. There were no reports of any
fighting.
Hardline Shebab insurgents control much of southern Somalia,
but are battling both the Western-backed government in
Mogadishu and Kenyan troops in the far south, who crossed the
border last month to attack rebel strongholds.
African Union officials and members of the regional
peacekeeping body, the Intergovernmental Authority on
Development (IGAD), held talks this week on bolstering the
9,700-strong AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
AMISOM, whose commanders have repeatedly called for
reinforcements, is tasked with protecting Somalia's weak
government, whose control is largely restricted to the anarchic
capital.
No decision for Ethiopia to join Ugandan and Burundian forces
in the AU mission had been made, Dina said.
"There is an intention on the part of IGAD members to bolster
peacekeeping forces, because as you know the regional
countries are working on increasing the numbers of AMISOM,"
Dina said.
"As to Ethiopian (troops), there is nothing that has been
decided."
Kenya, which acted in its own national interest by sending
troops and tanks into southern Somalia after accusing the
Shebab of attacks and kidnappings on its territory, has also
offered troops for the force.
The humanitarian crisis in central and southern Somalia sparked
by years of conflict and extreme drought is the worst in the
world, the United Nations said Friday, with nearly 250,000
people facing imminent starvation.
Although the UN downgraded three famine alerts Friday to
emergency levels, three other famine zones remain, and aid
agencies warn that conflict is hampering access to those in need.
Courtesy
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