A massive movement of Ethiopian troops have been spotted in Gedo province. The troops where spotted in multiple localaties, in particular the towns of Baardheere and Garabaharaay.
The military contingents where traveling in armored vehicles as they traveled through the center of these localities and later the periphery. According to local contacts that spoke with Halgan Media on anonymity these Ethiopian troops began massing at nearby Military camps shortly afterwards.
It’s not clear what sparked the massive movement of Ethiopian troops in Gedo province, despite there are being tens of thousands of Ethiopian troops occupying Southern Somalia already. It’s widely believed by locals in Gedo that the Ethiopian troops based in the area are directly coordinating with the Somali Govt in Mogadishu.
Many suspect that these troops will be used in an upcoming military offensive to strike and violently seize the port city of Kismaayo in Lower Jubba province. The central Govt in Mogadishu has been keen to oust the current leadership of the Jubaland administration in Kismaayo.
Others that we spoke to believe the Ethiopian troops will take part in a joint offensive with the Somali Govt troops to push Al Shabaab out of there strong hold in the Middle Jubba province, which is the only province in Somalia fully controlled by Al Shabaab.
Upon ousting the Militants from the region by force, it’s widely speculated that central government in Mogadishu wants to build a rival and parallel administration in the strategic port city of Bu’aale in Middle Jubba province to further push and solidify the central government’s interest in the region.
Regardless of the outcome, we will keep you updated as it develops.
Halgan Media.
