Ethiopia rebels deny standoff with NW Somalia forces

[Burn Notice]

Somaliland and Ethiopian forces clash with ONLF rebels

 

BORAMA (Somalilandpress) — According to local eyewitnesses a heavy war erupted between the Ethiopian troops and ONLF rebels near the Somaliland border on Tuesday and has displaced many in near by towns and villages.

 

An eyewitness told Somalilandpress that the clashes began midday in the Mar-mar mountains in Awdal region close to the Ethiopian border after the militants were surrounded.

 

They added the Somaliland army have also arrived in the region and is backing the Ethiopian army – each army is said to be shelling the militants from its side of the border.

 

No casualties have been reported but Ethiopia and Somaliland have vowed to eliminate the group from their regions.

 

According to the Interior Minister, Dr. Mohamed Abdi Gabose two boats carrying an estimated 240-300 fighters arrived in the ancient coastal town of Zeila last Friday. The men were then smuggled across Somaliland by three lorries pretending to be carrying food products. He added the Somaliland police captured five men who separated from the group and seized weapons, Eritrean money, communication equipment and training manuals that were in Somali and Amharic.

 

Dr Gabose added the men, who belong to the ****** National Liberation Front (ONLF) received their training in Eritrea and were on their way to the Somali region of Ethiopia to battle the Ethiopian military.

 

Ethiopia has since moved heavily armed battalions near the Somaliland border and the two sides are exchanging information of where about the the militants are.

 

The militants have since separated into three different groups and one is already been trapped with heavy artillery from the Ethiopian forces. Eyewitnesses say, local people have also fled to the Somaliland side and are making their way to near by towns.

 

It’s unclear how long the war will last but Somaliland’s commander of the armed forces said the conflict will be concluded within two-three days.

 

This embarrassment for Somaliland comes weeks after Ethiopia expressed concern about a number of cabinet ministers whom Ethiopia suspects are linked to Somalia’s hard-line al-Shabab. This latest hick-up will further strain relations between Addis Ababa and the new administration in Hargeisa.

 

People in Somaliland can not understand how such a large force could easily land inside Somaliland’s territory. This is now a major security blow for the regime.

[Thankful]

This embarrassment for Somaliland comes weeks after Ethiopia expressed concern about a number of cabinet ministers whom Ethiopia suspects are linked to Somalia’s hard-line al-Shabab.

This latest hick-up will further strain relations between Addis Ababa and the new administration in Hargeisa.

 

People in Somaliland can not understand how such a large force could easily land inside Somaliland’s territory.

This is now a major security blow for the regime

This is from one of their websites!

[Kamaavi]

Originally posted by Burn Notice:

We are working closely with the Ethiopian army. So the militia is now trapped between Ethiopia and Somaliland.

General Elmi Robel Furr is clever man. But ONLF is more clever.

 

 

Originally posted by Burn Notice:

The General confirmed that all the evidences point to ONFL.

They could be the Awdal uprising. Who knows!

 

 

Originally posted by Burn Notice:

The newly elected Somaliland government is unpopular in Awdal Province.

That is the point!

 

Originally posted by Burn Notice:

In May of this year, the Ethiopian government entered Somaliland borders to crush SSC militia and other Islamist militia

And now Ethiopia is invading Awdal on fake calls, propaganda. It could be more complex. Ethio wants an acces to sea. But like I said ONLF is more majure politically than Ethios and landers combined.

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Goormee Soomaali Galbeed dhul 'Itoobiyaan' noqotay waaba yaabee?

 

Nothing abhors me more than seeing a so-called Soomaali giving Soomaali lands to foreigners, especially of all people, to Xabashis. How low can some people get.

[Kamaavi]

^What is your take on the uprising of Awdalities?

[Hales]

Why would Anti-SL regime Awdalites with 'alleged' Onlf documents cross the seas travel 150Km inland and head towards the Ethio-Somali border...?

[Hales]

http://allafrica.com/stories/201009150015.html

 

A group of rebels who were reportedly "surrounded" by security forces in Somalia's separatist Somaliland region have successfully crossed the border into Ethiopia, while Ethiopian troops have entered border towns in northwestern Somalia (present-day Somaliland), according to reports reaching Puntland-based Radio Garowe. Somaliland Interior Minister Dr Mohamed Abdi Gabose told reporters Monday that the ONLF ethnic Somali rebels who are fighting against Ethiopia's government were being searched for by Somaliland security forces in Awdal region, at a mountain range where the international borders of Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti intersect. Somaliland President Ahmed Silanyo Somaliland officials claim that the group of ONLF fighters, who reportedly number between 200 and 700 men according to conflicting reports, landed secretly at Zeila coast in Awdal region of northwestern Somalia (present-day Somaliland). Dr Gabose, the Somaliland government's interior minister, alleged that the suspected ONLF rebels wer "trained in Eritrea." But a senior member of ONLF who identified himself as the rebel group's deputy commander told Mogadishu-based radio stations that "no ONLF fighters are trained in Eritrea." He also denied that any ONLF fighters landed in Somaliland. Some Somaliland-based media agencies have reported that fighting broke out in the mountain area, but these reports have not been independently verified. Inside sources say the reports of fighting could be an attempt to "save face" for the performance of Somaliland security forces. Ethiopian troops arrive Somaliland-based Jamhuuriya newspaper has reported that a force of 1,000-strong Ethiopian troops has entered parts of Awdal region in northwestern Somalia (Somaliland) to conduct military search operations in the mountain range. There are reports saying that the group of suspected ONLF fighters have "already crossed into Ethiopia," where the ONLF has waged an insurgency since 1984 and is seeking self-determination for the Somali-inhabited ****** region of southeastern Ethiopia. Somaliland has enjoyed relative peace and stability for nearly two decades. But analysts say the continued unrest in southern Somalia and the low-level insurgency in ****** region of Ethiopia is affecting Somaliland's security. The bulk of Somaliland's security forces were sent to Sool region in 2007, leaving parts of the region vulnerable to security risks. Relevant Links Reports that heavily armed anti-Ethiopia rebels landed on the coast and traveled by land for hundreds of kilometers creates problems for Somaliland's new administration, led by President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo. Since President Silanyo's election in June, Ethiopian government officials have expressed frustration with the new Cabinet ministers, some of whom Addis Ababa accuses of having links to Al Shabaab militants in southern Somalia. In 1991, Somaliland unilaterally declared independence from the rest of Somalia but has not been recognized internationally. Somaliland claims colonial-era boundaries, but neighboring Puntland contends that Sool and Sanaag regions belong to Puntland due to centuries-old kinship and blood ties.

[Jacaylbaro]

The problem now is the denial .... if ONLF officially denied their men then they let them die for nothing ,,,, at least they could say it loud & proud so that they stand for their cause ...

[Faafan]

Jacaylbaro why are you wishing ill for ONLF you scumbag...really thats a scumbag attitude.

 

Only an I.diot would take Cabdi Ilays unintelligent remarks on VOA as serious.We killed 123 men give me a break.tommorrow he will visit Jeel O'gadeen in Jigjiga and display them as ONLF soldiers as he usually does.

 

You and your administration and now Ethiopia are completely in the dark over this issue.You have been out-smarted and out-manouvered.Good luck next-time.

[Jacaylbaro]

I'm talking about the ONLF leaders denying this and saying there are no ONLF elements in that area which is shameful to their struggle.

 

It was A&T who was quoting Abdi Ilays yesterday not me ....

 

 

Now that is what you have to swallow for now ....

[Faafan]

How is it shameful, they said our troops are not based outside the region which is there official policy.There admission would stain there reputation and strain there alliances.From a political outlook its a negative for the struggle.If there were casualties(Hypothetically speaking), those men have taken a heavy oath to defend and drive Ethiopia out of there land.They dont need recognition on VOA.Its not American Idol.

[Jacaylbaro]

and who said they are based outside the region ?? ,, all we know is that they were trespassing

[Thankful]

We all know that if NW Somalia's forces and Ethiopians really killed that many fighters we would see pics. They always take advantage of a photo op. There is no evidence but JB wants us to take his gov't word on it.....yeah right.

[Jacaylbaro]

Meesha rag baa isku hayee iskaga bax adigu ,,,

[Thankful]

Lol, Ethiopians vs. ONLF??? "Rag" don't need others to fight their battles.....e.g. versus the SSC in Buhoodle a few months ago and right now. I think that is what the opposite of Rag do!