Omer vows to mobilise self defence should TLPF ‘take Addis’

By Shugri Mohamed

GOOBJOOG NEWS|JIGJIGA: Somali State president Mustafa Omer has vowed to protect the region from rebels should they advance and take over the capital Addis Ababa.

Speaking during a meeting with traditional and religious leaders in Jigjiga, Omer said he will mobilise forces to defend the regional state.

“If you hear that TPLF has taken over Addis Ababa, you will also hear those Somali Special forces (liyuu) will be fighting against TPLF in Addis Ababa. We will protect our region and people at all costs,” Omer said.

Traditional elders and religious leaders attending the meeting recalled how the Somali people had suffered under the EPRDF-TPLF led rule and would not allow the rebels to come back into power. They called for unity and to support the regional administration.

Somali state has in recent months mobilised forces to join hands with the federal government in the fight against TPLF.

The Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has been fighting the Federal government for the past year. The TPLF dominated Ethiopian politics for 30 years until 2018. The conflict has left 400,000 people on the brink of starvation, unconfirmed numbers dead while thousands more have been uprooted from their homes.

The Somali Regional State has been largely peaceful since the start of the Tigray War. Earlier this year, border clashes with neighboring Afar region saw dozens of civilians killed.