In brief
- On 29 September 2024, Somali Dispatch reported that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Ethiopia had taken control of airports and key roads in the Gedo region.
- The report attributes the claim to an Al Jazeera interview and includes further allegations about Ethiopia arming over 1,000 militia members.
- The report does not establish independent verification of the control claim or any developments after publication.
On 29 September 2024, Somali Dispatch published a report attributing a significant infrastructure-related claim to Somalia's president. According to the report, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced that Ethiopia has taken control of airports and key roads located in the Gedo region. The president made the statement in an interview with Al Jazeera, Somali Dispatch reported.
The report does not identify the specific airports or roads allegedly controlled by Ethiopia, nor does it state when the control was supposedly established. It also does not provide independent evidence or confirmation of the claim beyond the president's statement.
Somali Dispatch further attributed several additional allegations to President Mohamud. The president claimed that since the signing of an agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland, Ethiopia has recruited and armed over 1,000 militia members from various clans in southern Somalia. He also said these militias were provided with weapons supplied by the Ethiopian government.
"Since signing the MOU, Ethiopia has armed more than 1,000 militia members from different clans and groups," the president was quoted as saying. He added that in the Gedo region, Ethiopia has taken over airports and claims it is protecting Somalia's security.
"Today, in every part of the South, you can find weapons supplied by Ethiopia," he said, according to the report.
The report does not include any response from the Ethiopian government or the Somaliland administration. It also does not provide details about the referenced agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland, such as its date, location, or signatories.
Since the publication of the Somali Dispatch report, no further developments, official reactions, or changes in the situation have been reported.
Frequently asked questions
Which specific airports and roads are under Ethiopian control in Gedo?
The Somali Dispatch report does not identify the specific airports or roads allegedly controlled by Ethiopia.
What evidence supports the President's claim about Ethiopian control of infrastructure in Gedo?
The report does not provide independent evidence or confirmation beyond the president's statement.