Ethiopian troops withdrew from three more towns of south central Somalia last Tuesday. That is two days after they abandoned the relatively larger town El bur (or Ceelbur) town in the region. The latest towns to be abandoned by Ethiopian troops are Mahas, Wabho and Beled-hawo towns according to the news by the Associated Press, Garowe and Sonna.
Ethiopian officials in Addis Ababa, contacted by this blog, claim to have ‘no information’ on the matter.
Here are the reports by AP and two Somalian news outlets.
Ethiopian Troops Abandon Some Somali Towns
(June 12, 2012 – AP) Witnesses say that hundreds of gun-toting al-Shabab fighters have moved back into central Somali towns abandoned over the last week by Ethiopian troops.
Ali Muhyadin, a resident in the town of El-bur, said Tuesday that residents woke up on Sunday and found that Ethiopian troops had abandoned their bases.
Residents said al-Shabab fighters then beheaded two men accused of collaborating with the Ethiopians and dumped their headless bodies in town.
Al-Shabab was reported to have returned to two other towns — Mahas and Wabho — after Ethiopian troops left.
Ethiopia’s president recently promised that Ethiopian forces would leave Somalia soon. Ethiopian forces still occupy the larger towns of Baidoa and Beledweyne.
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Ethiopian forces ditch another town in south-central Somalia
June 13 2012 (Garowe Online) – Ethiopian and government backed Ahlu Sunna forces, have abandoned another town in south central Somalia, Radio Garowe reports.
The village of Wabho, approximately 40 kms south west of El Bur was vacated by Ahlu Sunnah and Ethiopian forces on Tuesday.
According to residents of Wabho, after the allied forces deserted the village, Al Shabaab militants quickly seized control and have been carrying out inspections of the allied forces’ empty barracks.
The allied forces in their tanks and technical vehicles headed to the district of Guri’el 120 kms west of Wabho, where they have set up camp.
It is unclear why the allied forces have retreated from another town in the region. Ahlu Sunnah authorities when asked did not comment on why the forces evacuated the town.
However local sources close to Ahlu Sunnah, said that the group will release statements following a meeting, which officials will discuss the recent retreats of allied forces in the Galgudud region and potential security measures.
On Sunday, Ethiopian forces vacated the town of El Bur which was quickly taken over by Al Shabaab insurgents. The following day two men, who were suspected of working with the allied forces, were found beheaded in the town’s center.
The brutal murder has left residents gripped with fear as Al Shabaab has assumed control.
On the other hand Ethiopia stated earlier this year that their mission was to force Al Shabaab from towns occupied by them but not to safeguard cities captured by Ethiopian forces.
Ethiopia has stated that they will depart from towns after handing it over to African Union forces (AMISOM) that have already deployed a small number of forces in Baidoa with more set to arrive.
Analysts say that the reason for the retreats by Ethiopian forces could possibly be delays in the substitution period, in which AMISOM forces were to assume control of cities captured by Ethiopian and Somali forces, causing Ethiopian forces to vacate even before the AU forces arrive.
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Ethiopian troops quit from Beled-hawo in Gedo region
(June 12, 2012 – SONNA)-Ethiopian troops stationed in Beled-hawo city of Gedo region southwest Somali have on Tuesday morning withdrawn from that city while currently controlled by Somali national forces as Somali National News agency reported.
The Ethiopian forces having armed vehicles left Beled-hawo town this morning are reported to have been heading to Dalow city located in the border between Ethiopia and Somalia.
The reason why Ethiopian troops vacated from the Beled-Hawo is not yet clear but officials of Somali Transitional Federal Government explained that their leaving is only for military tactics.
It was a day ago when Ethiopian forces backing Ahlu-suna Waljama’a have deserted El-bur, Wabho and Mahas in Galgudud and Hiiraan regions in central Somalia.
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