 Ethiopian soldiers in Somalia |
Ethiopian troops, due pullout from Somalia, reportedly start disarming and demobilizing hundreds of potentially rebellious Somali soldiers.
The move came on Thursday after the troops were tipped off that the soldiers planned to desert the army and join anti-government militiamen following the Ethiopian withdrawal, a Press TV correspondent reported.
On receiving the information, the Ethiopians began disarming the soldiers on duty in the capital, Mogadishu's Presidential Palace, Villa Somalia where most of the servicemen are stationed.
The precaution is reportedly going to be taken against suspected Somali soldiers throughout the city.
A report last month by the director of the United Nations Security Council's Monitoring Group on Somalia, Dumisani Kumalo said that "over 15,000 soldiers and police had deserted or defected along with their arms, uniforms, skills and vehicles in some cases."
In many cases, the stolen armament -- considered as a good source of weaponry in a country that had been under a UN arms ban for more than 15 years -- ended up in that hands of insurgents, the report added.
This is while, in four days time and in line with a Djibouti agreement, the Ethiopians are to move out of the war-battered country following two years of military support for Somalia's insecure transitional government against the opposition fighters.
Over the two years, the forces had been constantly targeted by Al-Shabaab gunmen affiliated with the Somali oppositionists, the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC).
Thanks to its non-conciliatory gunmen, the UIC currently holds sway over most parts of the country.
A report last month by the director of the United Nations Security Council's Monitoring Group on Somalia, Dumisani Kumalo said that "over 15,000 soldiers and police had deserted or defected along with their arms, uniforms, skills and vehicles in some cases."
In many cases, the stolen armament -- considered as a good source of weaponry in a country that had been under a UN arms ban for more than 15 years -- ended up in that hands of insurgents, the report added.
This is while, in four days time and in line with a Djibouti agreement, the Ethiopians are to move out of the war-battered country following two years of military support for Somalia's insecure transitional government against the opposition fighters.
Over the two years, the forces had been constantly targeted by Al-Shabaab gunmen affiliated with the Somali oppositionists, the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC).
Thanks to its non-conciliatory gunmen, the UIC currently holds sway over most parts of the country.
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