Hiiraan Online
By Shafi’i Mohyaddin
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Somalia has lauded for the integration of Ethiopian troops into the African Union Peace keeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The Ethiopian troops were previously operating in the country, but they were only yesterday unveiled their formal integration into AMISOM.
The commander of Somalia’s armed forces General Abdirisak Khalif Elmi said Somali government was fully lauding for the move which he said will help a breakthrough in the fight against Al Shabaab militants fighting the government and AU forces in the country.
“With the Ethiopia’s joining into the AU mission in Somalia will consolidate the fight against Al Shabaab and will also help the sudden out of Al Shabaab out of the country” the Somali Army commander noted.
The Ethiopian forces will extend their operations into five regions south and south west of the country. They are Bakool, Bay, Gedo, Lowe Shabelle and middle Shabelle regions. These regions are known as ‘section three’ of AU operations.
The inclusion of three battalions from Ethiopia will make the number of AU troops in the country up to 22,000 strong forces from a number of African countries.
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