BAYDHABO, Somalia (KAAB TV) – The President of South West State, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen), commended the Ethiopian Defense Forces (ENDF) for their vital role in maintaining security and stability in the region during a meeting held in Baydhabo on Saturday.
Presidential spokesperson Mohamed Ali Ibrahim conveyed President Laftagareen’s gratitude to the Ethiopian forces and highlighted the President’s directive for the ENDF, under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), to enhance their collaborative efforts with South West State officials.
“The President instructed the Ethiopian ATMIS forces to speed up, strengthen, and redouble their work to collaborate with South West State officials in eliminating the Al-Shabaab group,” Ibrahim stated.
He added, “The president also urged ENDF ATMIS to scale up the plan to target areas still under the control of terrorist groups in the South West State.”
During the meeting, President Laftagareen, along with other government officials, engaged in in-depth discussions with Ethiopian military officials regarding regional security.
“The President held an important meeting discussing the security in the region. ENDF ATMIS forces, on their side, promised to launch targeted operations at Al-Shabaab-controlled locations in the South West areas,” Ibrahim elaborated.
This significant meeting follows recent statements by Hussein Sheikh Ali, the national security adviser to Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, which marked a turning point in Somalia’s relationship with Ethiopia.
Ali announced that Ethiopia would no longer be regarded as an ally by the current administration due to Ethiopia’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Somaliland, a self-declared independent region since 1991, which remains unrecognized internationally.
The MOU grants Ethiopia access to the Red Sea, causing friction between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa.
President Mohamud’s administration has called for the withdrawal of the ENDF from Somalia by the end of December 2024, without presenting a clear plan to address the resultant security vacuum.
Mogadishu’s announcement has faced opposition from regional states such as Jubbaland and South West, who express concerns over the potential security implications if the ENDF departs.
The ENDF has been a crucial presence in Somalia since 2007, entering the country to counter terrorist groups and support the fragile federal government in Mogadishu. They have been credited with significant contributions to securing large parts of southern and central Somalia from the threat posed by Al-Shabaab.
In light of these developments, President Laftagareen’s visit to the ENDF ATMIS base in Baydhabo underscores the South West State’s commitment to continuing its partnership with the Ethiopian forces.
This stance reflects a broader regional sentiment favoring the sustained presence of ENDF for ongoing security and stability efforts.