Ethiopian prime minister: Ethiopian troops are ready to replace any contingent that leaves Somalia

Ethiopian Prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn told media that Ethiopian government is  ready to boost its troop level in Somalia so as to replace soldiers from Sierra Leone, which withdraw its forces from the mission over Ebola fears. This news was disseminated by AFP news agency.

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said his country could take their place.

“If there is a request from the African Union, Ethiopia is ready to replace any contingent that leaves Somalia,” he told reporters, adding that Ethiopian troops were already operating in “more than 60 percent of Somali territory.”

On the  other hand The prime minister is worried about the political disputes between  the leaders  and called them to uproot the disputes.

850 soldiers from Sierra Leone, who were part of the African Union’s 22,000-strong AMISOM have  withdrawn from Somalia over Ebola fear.

This comes after IJA leader  Ahmed Madobe and his deputy general Abdullahi Fartaag met with Ethiopian leaders in Addis Ababa.

Currently there are 4400 Ethiopian soldiers in Somalia particularly  in Bakol, Bay,Gedo, and Galgadud regions.