File Photo/Somali Times
The East African Standby Force commanders’ conference opened today in Mogadishu, opened by the Somalia State Minister of Défense, Omar Ali Abdi, and attended by officials from member countries.
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The Ethiopian government announced today in Mogadishu that the first units of the African union forces operation will be naval units, and that they have prepared ships, boats and general equipment for the force to operate.
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Ethiopian officials presented a surprising argument at today’s meeting, bringing up the agreement signed between the Somali government and Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, when the AUSSOM force was being divided, at which time Somalia agreed that the forces being sent would be naval units.
Somalia officials, led by the Minister of State for Défense and Deputy Commander of the Somali National Army, General Madey Nurey Sheikh Ufurow, strongly rejected Ethiopia’s plan to deploy its naval forces to Somalia.
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The agenda of the conference was initially to find solutions to regional security challenges, prevent cross-border crimes among the member states, and cooperate in military matters, but Ethiopia has submitted its intention to the conference.
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A heated debate that almost led to the breakup of the conference was created by the Ethiopian officials sent to Mogadishu, while Somali officials openly refused to continue their briefings at the conference, and the conference ended today in a hush.
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Among the officials attending the conference in Mogadishu is Colonel Abdirahman Abdi, the senior operational advisor to the Commander of the Djibouti Army. The colonel, who explained the importance of the conference, said that the plan they are developing will be submitted to the defense ministers of the East African Standby Force countries.
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The Deputy Commander of the Somali National Army, General Maadey Nuurey Sheikh Ufurow, who represented the Somali National Army Command at the conference, elaborated on the points to be discussed at the conference that opened in Mogadishu, saying that it is an honour and a historic achievement for Somalia to host this conference.
The officials participating in the conference extensively discussed important issues concerning the countries that are members of the East African Security Forces, and the plans that emerge from this conference will be presented to the defence ministers of the ESF countries who are meeting again soon.
The East African Security Forces (ESF) has been established for 25 years, and this is the first time that Somalia has hosted such a conference. The Director General of the East African Security Forces, who spoke at the conference, praised Somalia for hosting this conference, the security recovery that is evident in the country, and how Somalia is playing its role in strengthening security in the Horn of Africa region.