The Ethiopian army pulled out Elbur, a town they claimed from Al-Shabaab leaving the town in the hands of the militants who came back and ceremoniously slaughtered two men. Ahlu Sunnaa Wal-Jamaa fighters were left to be butchered by the Al-Shabaab hence they pulled their troops from the area. Fresh troops have been trickling to Somalia since the pullout. Ahlu Sunnaa Wal-Jamaa fighters were left to be butchered by the Al-Shabaab hence they pulled their troops from the area.
The actions of Ethiopia are very worrying. Losing ground to terrorist for no apparent reason is an act of treason unless proved otherwise, our intelligence analysts project. This is sabotage and the intentions of the Ethiopians are ill meant to the AMISOM.
What is causing this shift in the Ethiopian policy on Somalia, particularly with the Kismayo war trophy? A critical analysis on the Ethiopian army incursion shows little progress in pacification of freed Somali towns leading to insurgency. The history of Ethiopian troops in Somalia has no strategic value rather a panacea for insurgency, SIN observes. Ethiopia has not come out to clear the mist on their withdrawal. Was it a tactical withdrawal?
Sabotage manifests for a number of reasons including Kenya’s KDF surrounding of areas around the Port of Kismayo which is widely viewed as a war trophy. Another factor is the lack of strategic value in the current AMISOM effort with Ethiopia finding itself doing less to foster the desired results. Kenya army is currently engaging the militants near the port town and are planning to take it. This remains the single most important factor that could trigger acts of sabotage.
Ethiopians are not cowards, though their strategy often does not prove effective on the long-term. This has once again manifested by their withdrawal from Elbur and nearby areas. This only amounts to providing new breeding ground for the Al-Shabaab which is an act of sabotage.
