Ethiopia cannot take an inch of Somalia waters, Al-Shabaab warns

MOGADISHU, Somalia - For the first time in history, Al-Shabaab militants have spoken from the same script with the federal government of Somalia, condemning Ethiopia's controversial agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region of the Horn of Africa nation.

The group, which is fighting to topple the current government, warned that Ethiopia should keep off internal affairs of the country, adding that no single inch of Somalia’s water can be taken by Addis Ababa, which signed an agreement with Somaliland.

Ali Dheere, the spokesperson of the group, said “It will not be possible for them [Ethiopia] to take an inch of the Somali waters". Al-Shabaab spokesperson Ali Dheere officially announced the group’s opposition to the Ethiopia, Somaliland MoU on the day it was announced on Jan 1.

Al-Shabaab said the conflict between Somalis and Ethiopia is a "religious war" and claimed Somalis have lost all conflicts with Ethiopia/Abyssinia that were not "non-Islamic struggles," referencing the "mujahidin's victory" in 2009 when Ethiopia withdrew following its 2006 invasion

Al-Shabaab also called on all Somalis to "liberate the country" from all "infidel invaders" "from Halane [in Mogadishu] to Zayla'a and Berbera [in Somaliland], opposing the Somaliland MOU & the Somali federal government's security agreements with Ethiopia

The remarks come at the time Al-Shabaab is facing a charm offensive from the Somali National Army with assistance from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], the US Africa Command, and local militia. The militants have lost over 3,000 fighters.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud maintains that his administration will defeat al-Shabaab by the end of 2024 as the ATMIS troops continue to withdraw from the country. Ethiopia and Somaliland have defended the deal, arguing that it does not negatively affect any country.

GAROWE ONLINE