The Ethiopian contingent of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) appears not to be holding back on its remit despite suggestions its members may be pulled back over tensions in recent months between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa.
Earlier this week Ethiopian troops under ATMIS conducted an operation on the outskirts of the Somali port city of Kismayo to clear the area of terrorist threats.
It was part of the mission’s mandate to degrade al-Shabaab insurgents and support the Somali Security Forces in securing the country which has been rocked by conflict for over 30 years.
ATMIS did not indicate the extent of the operations and its success against the insurgents.
The authorities in Somalia who regard Somaliland as a renegade province denounced the deal as a violaiton of its territorial sovereignty.
Mogadishu has since forged an alliance with Egypt and Eritrea, two countries in strained relations with Ethiopia.
Last month Egypt shipped heavy military gears to Somalia in a demonstration of support for the country over any chance of an unlikely conflict with Ethiopia.
WN/as/APA