The Somali government has accused Ethiopia of supplying weapons and troops to Jubaland amid escalating tensions due to governance disputes. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud opposes Jubaland’s leader Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe’s re-election, which Somalia deems unconstitutional. Reports indicate repeated weapons deliveries from Ethiopia, raising concerns about further instability in the region. Somalia has urged international partners to intervene to prevent potential violence.
The Somali government has once again accused Ethiopia of intervening in its domestic affairs, alleging the dispatch of weapons and troops to Jubaland state in preparation for conflict. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is in contention with Jubaland leader Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe, whose recent re-election is deemed unconstitutional by Mogadishu. Reports indicate that Ethiopian aircraft have delivered arms to Kismayo, raising concerns over escalating tensions in a nation already plagued by instability. Deputy Information Minister Abdirahman Al-Adala confirmed that supplies included transporting Jubaland’s Vice President to Addis Ababa following a significant troop deployment by Ethiopia in Somalia’s Gedo region. He stressed the Somali government’s resolve to safeguard its sovereignty against what it perceives as Ethiopian encroachment and attempts to compromise national security. Ethiopia’s role in training Somali militia while dealing with ongoing disputes regarding access to the Red Sea through Somaliland further complicates the situation. This marks the fourth occasion in a year that Somalia has accused Ethiopia of supporting regional authorities, following previous claims of weapons transfers into Baidoa and Puntland. Ethiopia has denied accusations made in July and has yet to respond to these latest allegations of interference. Somalia has appealed to international partners to intervene to prevent potential violence stemming from Ethiopia’s purported ambitions in the region.
Ethiopia’s involvement in Somalia’s internal affairs has been a contentious issue, with repeated accusations from the Somali government asserting that Ethiopia has been providing military support to regional states, primarily Jubaland. The conflict between the Somali federal government and Jubaland has intensified due to divergent views on governance and the legitimacy of recent elections. Allegations of arms shipments and troop movements by Ethiopia into Somalia have raised alarm about the possibility of further destabilization in a region that is already facing challenges related to security and governance. Somalia’s repeated calls for international assistance highlight the gravity of the situation and the potential for conflict escalation, especially concerning Ethiopia’s strategic interests in accessing the Red Sea through Somaliland.
The allegations of Ethiopian military support to Jubaland have reignited tensions between Somalia and its neighboring state amid ongoing disputes over sovereignty and governance. Somalia’s government asserts its commitment to protecting national security against perceived Ethiopian incursions, while Ethiopia’s involvement in arming regional authorities raises questions about its intentions in the Horn of Africa. The international community’s role may be crucial in mediating these tensions to avert a conflict that could exacerbate the already fragile situation in the region.
Original Source: www.garoweonline.com
