Somalia: 10 Years Ethiopia Invasion – Ethiopia Is the Cause of Our Instability, Somalis Say 10 Years After Invasion
By: Radio Dalsan in Mogadishu
Ethiopian soldiers in Somalia
(kichuu.com) — Majority of Somalia nationals think Ethiopia’s invasion and alleged interference is the cause of instability in the Horn of Africa country.
From interviews conducted by Radio Dalsan in Mogadishu some 80% of residents in the capital believe Ethiopia undermines the sovereignty and security of its neighbor Somalia.
“As long as the Ethiopian army presence continues in my country I will not be optimistic that the conflict facing Somalia will come to an end soon” Ahmed Bille a Mogadishu resident said.
It is ten years now since neighboring Ethiopia sent its troops across the border end of 2006 to help the weak Transitional government rout out the Islamic Courts Union who had controlled the capital Mogadishu for six months. Locals still refer to that battle as Dagaalki Itobian-Ka Moqdisho ku qabsatay” or loosely translated “when Ethiopians Were in Mogadishu War”.
Over a million Somalis were displaced following the invasion and thousands died a memory that many Somalis painfully remember.
Ever Since Ethiopian troops have been either been an independent force or recently as part of Amisom peace keeping force. They have in the past withdrawn and return depending on the political scenario back home and in Somalia.
According to Abdirashid Ahmed a Somali Political Analyst Ethiopia’s boots on the ground are at least 10000 and only 2000 serve under the green Amisom beret.
“That indicates their interest in wanting to control the path that Somalia.
takes both internally regionally and internationally” Ahmned said in an interview with Radio Dalsan.
Ethiopian troop are still present in Galguduud Central Somalia Kismayo Gedo region and Hiraan. The y operate under Amisom in Bay and Bakool regions.
Ethiopia has lately been seen to support President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and with the Presidential election set for January 22 Addis has been seen to be backing a Mohamud come back.
On Saturday Addis hosted a mediation closed door meeting between the Incumbent and Presidential hopeful Sharif Sheikh Hassan Adan. Ethiopia would want to see Adan back down his bid and become Speaker of parliament and back Mohamud.
That would be the fifth time that President Mohamud has been in Addis in a period of one month and if the frequency of his visit is anything to go Ethiopia is pegging its hope on his to Villa Somalia.
President Mohamud recently sealed a deal whereby Ethiopia would replace Burundian troops in Mogadishu. Bujumbura has threatened to withdraw its troops over non payment.
Sagal Bihi an MP and social justice activist did not mince her words regarding the Ethiopia -Somalia relation.
“Now after 10yrs they are intervening with our political system to dominate the country in every aspect” she tweeted.
The post After Invasion, Ethiopia Is the Cause of Our Instability – Somalis Say appeared first on .