Mekelle፡ 12 August 2024 (Tigray Herald)
Somali Prime Minister’s Unexpected Visit to Baidoa:
A Surprise Move Opening the Door for Egypt as an Alternative to Ethiopian Troops
Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre (@HamzaAbdiBarre) began an unexpected working visit to Baidoa, the capital of the Bay region in South West State. His visit started with a meeting with the President of South West State, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed “Laftagareen” (@Laftagareen), aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two parties and accelerating the military campaign against the extremist group Al-Shabab.
This visit comes less than two weeks after members of the Somali Parliament from South West State accused President Laftagareen of treason. This accusation followed his organization of a pro-Ethiopian and anti-Egyptian demonstration in Huddur, the center of the Bakool region in the state.
South West State, along with Jubaland, had previously retracted their support for the Somali government’s plan to withdraw Ethiopian troops after the end of the African Union Mission in Somalia later this year.
The Ministry of Security in South West State had previously praised the Ethiopian troops, emphasizing their significant role in peacekeeping and calling for their continued presence in the region.
In contrast, Barre has suggested that Somalia has the right to host Egyptian troops to assist with its security needs, stressing that this military support does not imply an intention to attack Ethiopia.
Barre also criticized the Ethiopian government for violating Somali sovereignty and condemned the Memorandum of Understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland, stating that such actions violate international law and undermine Somali territorial integrity.
Barre emphasized that any external military assistance, including the potential deployment of Egyptian troops, is purely defensive and should not be considered a precursor to offensive operations.
Barre’s visit to South West State suggests that the Somali government may be considering opening the door for Egypt as a potential alternative to Ethiopian troops. This development highlights Barre’s crucial role in enhancing regional cooperation and exploring new options for security and stability in the country.
