ADDIS ABABA – The head honcho of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), Field Marshal General Birhanu Jula, contends that standing toe-to-toe with Ethiopia is beyond Somalia’s reach. In his perspective, Somalia lacks the prowess and manpower to challenge Ethiopia effectively.
During a much-broadcast interview, General Jula minced no words criticizing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, articulating doubts about his capability to protect Mogadishu from the al-Shabaab insurgents. “He should worry about guarding the sea before even thinking of a showdown with Ethiopia,” Jula asserted.
The military bigwig labeled Hassan Sheikh as “unable” to “face us” and to “safeguard Mogadishu.” Jula is known for such eyebrow-raising remarks that could fissure the unity in the Horn of Africa region.
“He should secure his position before threatening us with weapons allegedly supplied by Egypt,” he said in a fiery critique aimed at Somalia’s beleaguered leader during an interview recently.
In another media rendezvous, Jula shot down claims of illicit arms shipments to Somalia. He grappled with accusations from Somali quarters, stating, “We have not sent arms. Even if we did, it wouldn’t be shameful.”
These utterances surface as a riposte to Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, who alleged that Ethiopia had slipped unauthorized weaponry into Somali territories and hinted that Somalia might back Ethiopian insurgents.
In his rejoinder, Berhanu cautioned, “If this meddlesome chatter and provocation of civil unrest persist, we’ll not merely send arms. We’ll consider further measures if need be.”
Currently, Ethiopia finds itself in a quagmire with Somalia over access to the Red Sea. Somalia has rejected an accord struck between Addis Ababa and Hargeisa, acknowledging North Western State of Somalia as an independent state. Under this deal, North Western State of Somalia will relinquish 20 kilometers of Red Sea coastline to Ethiopia for a military facility and port.
Somalia has dismissed the agreement as void, vowing to uphold its sovereignty and territorial integrity against all odds. In turn, Somalia has inked a pact with Egypt to bolster its national security forces, stoking the tension anew.
Reported by AXADLETM
