Friday June 14, 2024
Baidoa (HOL) - Suspected al-Shabab militants fired at least ten mortar shells at an Ethiopian military base in the Hudur district of the Bakool region on Thursday night.
According to residents, the Ethiopian troops responded with artillery fire, but the casualties remain unknown.
The African Union peacekeeping mission (ATMIS), the Southwest regional state administration, and the federal government have not commented on the attack on the army base.The attack comes a week after the Southwest regional state administration opposed the Somali federal government's plan to withdraw Ethiopian troops from the country when the AMISOM mission officially ends in December 2024.
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it has not received any official communication from the Somali government regarding the withdrawal of Ethiopian peacekeeping forces from Somalia. The Ministry spokesperson Nabiu Tedla emphasized that Ethiopia is unaware of any such decision and has not been formally informed by Somali officials.
Diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Somalia have deteriorated significantly since January 1, when Ethiopia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Somaliland administration. The agreement allows Ethiopia sea access and a military base in exchange for potential recognition of Somaliland.