ESAT News (November 1, 2016)

Hassan Yaqoub

An al Shabaab governor has averred that the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from Somalia was linked to the domestic political crisis back home, a report filed by Africa News said.

According to Hassan Yaqoub, al Shabaab as a group were delighted at the withdrawals. He is quoted by the Voice of America (VOA) journalist in the country as saying, ‘‘Ethiopians have turned their back.’‘

The now ex-communication minister of Ethiopia, Getachew Reda, last week denied Yaqoub assertion and said the pull out was due to financial burden. Reda said the troops that have withdrawn are not within the AMISOM but instead were financed by Ethiopia.

There are 4,400 Ethiopian contingent under the AMISOM.

Al Shabaab recaptured three areas abandoned by Ethiopian troops in the last several weeks, according to reports.