Ethiopian forces seize Somali rebel’s stronghold Baidoa

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

February 23, 2012 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopian and Somali forces on Wednesday captured the strategic Somali town of Baidoa from the hands of the al-Qaeda-allied al-Shabaab militant group, according to the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry and news agencies.

This is the second and major gain for Ethiopian troops since forces reentered to Somalia in December when they took the the central town of Beledweyne from al-Shabaab. Baidoa was the Islamist group’s second most important base.

The strategic loss to the militant group, which recently made official it’s link with international terrorist organisation al-Quaeda, comes as the international community are stepping up their efforts to address Somalia’s many problems.

This week the UN Security Council voted to increase the African Union force in Somalia from 12,000 to 17,731, and conference in London on Thursday aimed to addressed the multidimensional issues that have led to Somalia being described a failed state.

The latest offensive by the Ethiopian forces against al-Shabaab were launched on Tuesday but faced no confrontation from the rebels.

Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Dina Mufti, said Baidoa is now secured and is in the hands of the Somali forces. The town has been under control of the Islamist militants for the past three years.

Mufti said that once eace and stability is restored, Ethiopia will withdraw its forces from Somalia. Somalia’s civil war began in 1991.

Baidoa has been an important base to Al-Shabaab and the losses are said to be a major blow to the rebels who has been battling the weak Somalia government since 2007.

Al-Shabaab, however, said the withdrawal from Baidoa was a tactical move.

Ethiopia previously sent troops to Somalia in 2006 with US backing and withdrew forces in 2009 after they overthrew the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) from de facto power in Mogadishu.

The joint offensive came ahead of an international conference on Somalia’s future. World leaders from at least 50 countries met Thursday in London to address the threats of the al-Qaida backed al-Shabaab insurgency, piracy, famine among others.

Among attending include leaders from neighboring Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, the United States, African Union and the Arab League, as well as the Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia.

On Wednesday, the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to boost African Union force in Somalia (AMISOM), by over 5,000 to help the battle against the Somalia militants.

In a statement, the African Union on Wednesday welcomed UN decision to increase AU forces in Somalia from 12,000 to 17,731 troops.

AU chief, Jean Ping said “the resolution is a further testimony to the commitment of the UN to help AMISOM and the Somali leadership to consolidate the important gains made on the ground and the progress recorded towards the completion of the transition process”

Ping further said it is an important step in the efforts by the AU and the UN to build an innovative and forward looking partnership to address the daunting challenges of peace and security in Africa.

The US has threatened to impose sanctions on anyone who blocks reforms to end the conflict in Somalia, which is seen as essential to counter militancy and piracy.

Al-Shabab have dismissed the London conference as colonialism and has dismissed the London meeting as part of a “concerted Crusade against the Muslims of Somalia”.

(ST)