Somalia today asked Ethiopia to withdraw its troops from certain towns. Delegations from the two countries met in Mogadishu on Thursday.
A senior Ethiopian delegation led by Aisha Mohammed, the Defense Minister, and Misganu Arega, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrived in Mogadishu today. Military and intelligence officials were also part of the delegation. Abdul Qadir Mohammed Nur, the Minister of Defense and Adil Omar, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, represented Somalia.
The Somali delegation agreed to reconsider the participation of the Ethiopian troops in the new peacekeeping mission called African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Though the Somali delegation made it clear that Somalia had arranged 11,000 troop to serve in AUSSOM from Kenya, Uganda and Djibouti, if Ethiopia will not be included. AUSSOM started operations for a year yesterday. So far names of troops contributing countries to AUSSOM have not been announced.
Reportedly, Somalia’s delegation suggested that Ethiopian troops should be relocated from certain towns even if they are allowed to participate in AUSSOM. Ethiopian officials did not agree with the suggestion. The Ethiopian delegation returned to Addis Ababa on Thursday evening. More meetings are expected to be held between the two sides.
It seems that Somalia is not happy with the growing Ethiopian political influence in Jubaland, Puntland and Southwest states of Somalia. Ethiopian military indirectly supported Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe in a controversial election in November last year. It remains to be seen if Ethiopia will agree to withdraw its soldiers from the towns mentioned by Somalia.
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