Ethiopia readies to pull troops from Somalia - Yahoo! News
ADDIS ABABA (AFP) – Ethiopia said on Saturday it has begun preparations to withdraw troops from Somalia, with the planned pullout raising fears of further chaos in the conflict-torn country.
Addis Ababa is to pull its forces out of Somalia, where it deployed in 2006 to back an embattled government, by the end of the year.
"This week, Ethiopian troops have begun to make preparations for their withdrawal. This has not, however, prevented continuing clashes with Al-Shabaab forces," a foreign ministry statement said, referring to an Islamist movement that has taken control of much of the country.
The Ethiopian withdrawal has sparked fears of a security vacuum in Somalia, where battles have raged between Ethiopian forces and Islamist fighters for the last two years.
Under a UN-sponsored agreement signed in Djibouti, the AU mission in Somalia is to take over security responsibilities while joint units involving the government and the opposition prepare to become operational.
But Ethiopia said plans for the AU mission, known as AMISOM, remained unclear.
"Currently, considerable confusion remains over the intentions of the AMISOM (AU mission in Somalia) troop contributing countries," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The AU force, expected to eventually number 8,000, currently comprises 3,400 soldiers from Uganda and Burundi, who are expected to send additional troops, according to the statement.
"It should, of course, be underlined again that the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops will be carried out without fail by the end of December," it added.
ADDIS ABABA (AFP) – Ethiopia said on Saturday it has begun preparations to withdraw troops from Somalia, with the planned pullout raising fears of further chaos in the conflict-torn country.
Addis Ababa is to pull its forces out of Somalia, where it deployed in 2006 to back an embattled government, by the end of the year.
"This week, Ethiopian troops have begun to make preparations for their withdrawal. This has not, however, prevented continuing clashes with Al-Shabaab forces," a foreign ministry statement said, referring to an Islamist movement that has taken control of much of the country.
The Ethiopian withdrawal has sparked fears of a security vacuum in Somalia, where battles have raged between Ethiopian forces and Islamist fighters for the last two years.
Under a UN-sponsored agreement signed in Djibouti, the AU mission in Somalia is to take over security responsibilities while joint units involving the government and the opposition prepare to become operational.
But Ethiopia said plans for the AU mission, known as AMISOM, remained unclear.
"Currently, considerable confusion remains over the intentions of the AMISOM (AU mission in Somalia) troop contributing countries," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The AU force, expected to eventually number 8,000, currently comprises 3,400 soldiers from Uganda and Burundi, who are expected to send additional troops, according to the statement.
"It should, of course, be underlined again that the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops will be carried out without fail by the end of December," it added.
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