Al Shabaab kills two Ethiopian soldiers

ESAT News (April 26, 2017)

Al-shabaab said its forces have ambushed Ethiopian soldiers serving in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) killing two.

According to Garowe Online dozens of al-Shabaab fighters attacked a military convoy on Wednesday in a remote area of Burdar, located 40 kilometers east of Beledweyne town, the regional capital of Hiiraan region.

”We were in state of fear and shock as both sides exchanged heavy weapons, including RPGs and machine guns during the gun battle,” said a resident in Burdar village, where the attack took place.

The report said the number of casualties are not clear, but al-Shabaab claimed through their affiliated media that they have killed two Ethiopian soldiers and destroyed military vehicles.

Meanwhile, Somali Update Online reported that an Ethiopian official serving with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has criticized Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo for what he termed as ‘disrespect’ against Ethiopian forces serving in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Haile Gebre, known in Somalia as “General” Gebre said in a tweet that the President “disrespectful’ to the Ethiopian force with AMISOM during his visit to Baidoa. His tweets did not specifically mentioned what Farmajo did to disrespect the troops.

“General” Gabre attempted to get access to meet President Farmajo but he

was simply denied by Somali Presidential aides.   

Haile Gebre, the self-proclaimed IGAD official, is widely accused of arm sales to rival factions and collecting bribes from Somali politicians who want come to power in the previous Somali government.

But the new president of Somalia and his aides wouldn’t give him their time of day, reports indicate.