MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s federal government sent more than 200 military vehicles toward Burhakabo on Saturday, after forces loyal to former Southwest president Abdiasis Laftagaren seized the town last week.
Officials have previously vowed to retake Burhakabo and other towns recently wrested from the federal government by Laftagaren’s forces, and to crush the rebel forces.
The vehicles included armored personnel carriers, trucks carrying troops, supply trucks and technicals. They left Wanlawayn district and passed through Bellidogle and the small town of Yaqbariwayne.
Residents said they saw a large column of military vehicles driving in a long line along the Mogadishu-Baidoa road for hours early on Saturday.
Troops have been building up along the road between Mogadishu and Wanlawayn for days and have met Al-Shabaab attacks on the road multiple times.
At least three military vehicles were destroyed in roadside bomb attacks between Wanlawayn and Afgoye this week, according to local media, with dozens of soldiers killed or wounded.
Al-Shabaab-affiliated media outlets reported early on Saturday that another military vehicle was damaged and one soldier was killed in an ambush along the Mogadishu-Afgoye corridor.
The federal government has not yet commented on the recent attacks and military movements.
Background
The operation comes amid tensions between Ethiopia’s government and the federal government in Mogadishu.
Addis Ababa insisted that its forces manning the towns recaptured by Laftagaren’s forces refused to get involved in the conflict or to side with Mogadishu.
Addis Ababa also reportedly sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council warning that its forces will have the right to self-defense if fired upon during a federal offensive against Laftagaren’s forces.
Ethiopia has cited self-defense in a military operation in which its forces killed Somali National Intelligence officers in Dolow and disarmed the remaining officers earlier this year.
The Ethiopian forces were siding with forces loyal to the Jubaland regional state in a skirmish with federal forces.
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