A contingent of African Union Mission Forces in Somalia (AMISOM) drawn from Ethiopia was awarded after ending their combat mission against the terror operatives.
Ethiopian troops in Somalia have been serving in various part of the Horn of Africa nation which is facing both Al-Shabaab threat and noxious internal politics.
The Ethiopian troops also engaged in training Somali National Army (SNA) in preparing them to take over the country’s security by the end of this year.
The Ethiopian contingent which has been battling Al-Shabaab terrorists under the mandate of AMISOM were awarded after successfully serving for one and half years in Somalia. Usually, the soldiers under AMISOM banner serve for a maximum of one year before a rotation whereby they are replaced by their colleagues within the same jurisdiction.
The troops were deployed under the AMISOM Sector 4 in Beletweyne, Hiraan region, where they operated alongside the Djibouti Armed Forces [DJAF] and the Somali National Army to degrade Al-Shabaab terrorists. While in this sector, the troops conducted different missions in different Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) like Halgan, Mahas, and Beletweyne.
According to Maj. Assefa Aadane, the Ethiopian AMISOM Contingent Operations Officer, the troops have accomplished different missions aimed at ensuring the protection of the Somali people and stability of the country that has battled with insurgency for more about sixteen years.
The Ethiopian troops have been part of the Quick Impact Projects [QIPs] that aimed to win the hearts and minds of the local communities living in the liberated areas of the Hiran region of Somalia.
Col. Abdirahman Riyale Hared, the commander of the Djiboutian contingent under AMISOM, saluted the Ethiopian troops for the gallantry and steadfastness while implementing the AMISOM mandate to secure and stabilize Somalia.
Besides Ethiopia, some of the AMISOM troops contributing nations include Kenya, Djibouti, Uganda, and Burundi. The current Force Commander Lt. General Diomede Ndegeya comes from Burundi and has been in service since last year.
