From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Mon Jul 14 2008 - 16:12:35 EDT
Somalia's defence minister, Ethiopian army officers in security talks
Monday 14 July 2008, Mareeg Online
secret meeting has taken place in Badoia city, the capital of Bay
Region [south-central Somalia], between interim Somali government
defence minister Muhyidin Muhammad Hajji Ibrahim and senior Ethiopian
army officers who have been in the city these past two days.
In the two-day meeting, which ended yesterday, the two sides discussed
cooperation in maintenance of security in Somalia, which has been lately
worsening.
The security situation in Baidoa, which hosts' parliament, is
particularly on the verge of spiraling out of control.
Sources close to the meeting told Mareeg online That the Ethiopian
officers and interim Somali government defence minister agreed to
cooperate on security, with the Ethiopian government suggesting that
Somali government army soldiers be trained to take part in maintenance
of security.
Somali government defence minister Muhyidin Muhammad Hajji particular
requested the Ethiopian government to provide arms to Somali troops,
saying that they did not have adequate weapons with which to keep
security and defend themselves against the insurgents.
Reports say that the Ethiopian officers accused some Somali soldiers of
working with the insurgents, even selling arms and ammunition to them
and sometimes taking off their uniforms and fighting alongside them.
To counter this matter, the Ethiopian officers are said to have proposed
that Somali soldiers undergo training as well as work with Ethiopian
troops based in Somalia, that every Somali army unit be led by an
Ethiopian officer so that their activities are known. The Somali defence
minister accepted the proposal.
Interim Somali government soldiers trained in Ethiopia are stationed in
Bay and Banaadir regions.
Another batch of soldiers trained in Ethiopia have not yet arrived in
the country; they are said to have encamped in Dolow, a locality that
straddles border between Somalia and Ethiopia.
Interim Somali government defence minister told the Ethiopian officers
that the Somali government lacked financial resources and therefore his
ministry could not pay soldiers salaries.
He requested the Ethiopian government to temporarily pay salaries of
Somali government soldiers.
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