Hassan Sheikh: Somalia is capable of fighting Al-Shabaab and Ethiopia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A much infuriated President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says Somalia will not shy away from battling with both Al-Shabaab militants and Ethiopia, noting that he has lost patience with the interference of the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Ethiopia is under scrutiny for signing a controversial agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, which has been fighting for statehood. The deal if implemented, will see Ethiopia getting 20 kilometres of land in Somalia in exchange for recognition.

But President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says Somalis should be united since they have the potential to challenge Ethiopia and Al-Shabaab concurrently. The al-Shabaab militants have been a menace for a while in the Horn of Africa nation.

“We are capable of fighting the terrorist militants of the Al-Shabaab and the Ethiopian invaders together as united Somali people,” President Mohamud said.

President Hassan Sheikh made it clear that Somalia is not invading Ethiopia, but if they do not listen to what we are saying then the people and the government are ready to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.

After the agreement, Hassan Sheikh had maintained that Ethiopia's blunders were giving Al-Shabaab a head start after losing several strategic points following a grand operation in the recent past. IGAD has set 18th January for discussions on emerging issues in the Horn of Africa.

President Mohamud said that Ethiopia would be blamed if the old enmity between Somalia and Ethiopia was revived.

“The day they [Ethiopia] take one action step, we’ll take two, three, four….they cannot blame us, and the international community cannot blame us. They cannot say ‘why did the Somali government take this decision,’” he added.

The Uganda meeting will have Ethiopia responding to allegations despite failing to make public some of the details of the MOU with Somaliland. On the other hand, Somaliland maintains the agreement will only work if Ethiopia recognises it as a sovereign state.

GAROWE ONLINE