Somalia Accuses Ethiopia of Sending in Weapons, Arming Militias to Destabilise Country

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Somalia has once again accused Ethiopia of destabilising the country through a series of covert activities, including the deployment of weapons and the mobilisation of militias.

In a terse statement Sunday, the Somali government said it was privy to information Ethiopia was conducting aseries of activities in the country aimed at fomenting strive and causing further instability.

“According to reports, Ethiopia has illegally imported weapons into areas of the Puntland and Galmudug regional states, and has also gathered militias in Ethiopia that it has taken from Hirshabelle,” the statement read in part. “Yesterday, it landed two planes in Kismayo, which, according to our information, belong to the Ethiopian Airlines Company, which were carrying illegal weapons.”

It added that the Ethiopian carrier transported Jubaland vice president Mahmud Sayid Aden and other state officials ‘who intend to cooperate in organizing conspiracies against the Somali nation and government, and to legalize Ethiopian-backed militias in the country to bring Ethiopia under the control of Gedo region.’

Somali government noted that these activities demonstrate Ethiopia’s intentions on ‘disintegration of the country’s unity, the desire for territorial expansion and the rearmament of enemy militias and thugs who are trying to occupy parts of the country, as well as the security of Somalia and the Horn of Africa region as a whole.’

The accusations come in the wake of faltering relations between the Federal Government and Jubaland state following elections last month which saw Ahmed Madobe retain his stay in power. The Federal Government has since rejected Madobe’s election and called for his arrest.

Relations betweem Somalia and Ethiopia have deteriorated since the signing of the controversial MoU with the break-away region of Somaliland in January.