Somalia: Ethiopian troops to bolster fight against Al-Shabab

[Deeq A.]

FEERFEER, Ethiopia – The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) has deployed a significant number of troops to the border town of Feerfeer, according to military and government sources.

The stated objective is to reinforce ongoing operations against Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region.

The deployment follows a series of recent Ethiopian airstrikes that targeted Al-Shabaab strongholds in Middle Shabelle. Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Jama confirmed the airstrikes, stating they were conducted with the full approval of the Somali Federal Government.

“Airstrikes inside Somalia cannot be conducted without the government’s knowledge and coordination,” Jama stated on Somali National Television (SNTV), underscoring the collaborative nature of the security operations between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.

While confirming the strikes, he did not release specific details regarding casualties or the extent of damage inflicted on Al-Shabaab targets.

Bolstering Somali National Army

The deployed Ethiopian troops are expected to augment the Somali National Army and allied local militia forces currently engaged in a sustained counter-offensive against Al-Shabaab in Middle Shabelle.

The region has witnessed a marked increase in militant activity, including attacks on Somali military installations and civilian populations, prompting a stepped-up response from both Somali and Ethiopian forces.

Ethiopia’s military involvement is grounded in a comprehensive security cooperation agreement with Somalia, which includes provisions outlined in the “Ankara agreement” and the formal authorization for ENDF forces to operate within Somalia as part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).

This legal framework facilitates Ethiopian troops’ coordinated deployment and operational activities within Somali territory.

The reinforced deployment to Feerfeer, strategically located on the border, signals Ethiopia’s heightened commitment to containing Al-Shabaab’s expansion and influence, particularly within the strategically significant Middle Shabelle region.

The renewed security partnership between Ethiopia and Somalia represents a substantial shift in regional security dynamics, following improved relations after previous tensions related to Ethiopia’s maritime access agreement with Somaliland.

The joint military effort underscores a shared determination to address the persistent threat posed by Al-Shabaab and stabilize the region.

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