galbeed.com

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Woyanne ambassador in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, has indicated that the government of Woyanne  is initiating policy changes to help improve security.

Woyanne Ambassador Fisaha Shawel told journalists Thursday that the Woyanne  army will stop search operations across Somalia.

“We have halted our search operations across the country [Somalia], and especially Mogadishu,” the Ambassador said, adding: “This is a preliminary step in our desire for the Somali people to reach an agreement so we [Woyanne troops] can withdraw from Somalia.”

It was a rare public speech by Woyanne Ambassador in Mogadishu. Mr. Shawel was speaking at a location where Woyanne soldiers distributed food aid to upwards of 1,000 Somalis, mostly women and childeren

The soldiers distributed various foodstuffs to the families, including sugar, flour, cooking oil and rice.

It was the second time Woyanne troops distributed food to needy families in Mogadishu, according to the Ambassador.

But. Shawel indicated that a serious security challenge was posed by insurgents, who continued to target and attack Ethiopian forces on Somali soil.

“The al Shabaab group is creating problems in Somalia, especially in Mogadishu…they [al Shabaab insurgents] launch mortars from among civilians and this is unacceptable,” Ambassador Shawel said, while underscoring that Ethiopian soldiers will continue to response militarily until al Shabaab’s attack capability was significantly weakened.

 

Mr. Shawel welcomed an ongoing UN-backed peace process between the Somali government and the Eritrea-based opposition. The talks are scheduled to resume this weekend, but Somali opposition leaders remain divided on participating in the peace talks.

Ethiopia has maintained thousands of combat troops inside Somalia since December 2006, when the Woyanne army helped the weak interim government expel Islamists from Mogadishu.

Woyanne government officials claim that the country only has 4,000 soldiers deployed in Somalia, but locals report a much higher number.

Somali rebels have attacked joint Somali-Woyanne soldiers whenever a search operation begins in Mogadishu, especially in areas considered to be insurgent strongholds.

Thousands of people have died during the ongoing Islamist-led insurgency that aims to topple the Somali government and expel its Ethiopian military backers.

Sphere: Related Content

Categories: News
Tags: Features