Ethiopia training Somaliland troops amid tension with Somalia

HARGEISA, Somalia - Ethiopia has been training Somaliland's regional troops for a while, reports have emerged, in what could yet again heighten tensions between Somalia and the Horn of Africa nation, which is not new to controversies.

Ethiopia is embroiled in a diplomatic tussle with Somalia after it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland, which would give it access to the Red Sea for the construction of the Naval Base and port, in exchange for Somaliland's recognition as a sovereign state.

Somaliland's official TV the SLNTV reports that the commander of Somaliland forces Gen. Nuh Ismail Tani bade farewell to the trainees at the border of Wajaale town. They are set to undergo military training in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia has separately been calling for dialogue with Somalia over the agreement with Somaliland but the most recent roundtable meeting in Ankara did not yield much. The second round of talks is scheduled for September 2024.

Addis Ababa is a major security stakeholder in Mogadishu and has close to 4,000 soldiers serving in the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). However, due to the disagreements, Somalia wants Ethiopian troops to leave.

For the past five years, Somalia has been dispatching recruits to Eritrea and Uganda for three years for training as it seeks to equip the military to take over security responsibilities. The country is keen to defeat the al-Shabaab militants who are causing chaos in the Horn of Africa.

On Thursday, the president of Somaliland Muse Bihi Abdi, received a delegation led by the US ambassador to Somalia, Richard H. Riley, at the presidential palace. They discussed issues, including upcoming elections, and the Somaliland-Ethiopia Red Sea MoU that sparked tension in the Horn of Africa.

Elsewhere, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud maintained that Somalia’s cause to defeat Al-Shabaab is on, adding that the country is yet to lose territories liberated from the Al-Shabaab militants contrary to social media claims.

"No liberated areas lost and regained by Al-Shabaab. Denying our victory is a humiliation to the Somali people and our government," said Somali President Hassan Sheikh.

Somali Troops however lost ground after Al-Shabaab militants 26 Aug 2023 launched a major attack involving suicide bombs in Cowsweyne, Galmudug state inflicting heavy losses on govt force. After the attack, the SNA vacated several hard-gained areas in the southern Mudug region.

GAROWE ONLINE