BY YOHANES JEMANEH
Over the past 20 years, Ethiopia has been striving to ensure peace fighting against every anti-peace element like the terrorist Al-Shabaab militants. In view of that, the country could ensure peace in the region and it has been thought to be an impregnable state in the region.
Terrorist Al-Shabaab has been undertaking sequential attempts to breach the border of Ethiopia and perpetrate an attack. Since the end of April, Ethiopia had apprehended some 34 Al-Shabaab members who were making preparations to carry out a terrorist attack in Addis Ababa and various parts of the country. The suspects were arrested in operations carried out in collaboration with Somali and Oromia regional states security forces, said the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).
However, following the failure in its repetitive infiltration, the terrorist group attempted a direct invasion on Ethiopia on July 20 in the Somali region where its members faced a harsh military response from the Ethiopian security forces.
On July 30, the National Defense Force announced that the terrorist Al-Shabaab Propaganda Chief Fu’ad Muhammad Keleif and two other top leaders of the group were killed. Among the top Al-Shabaab commanders who were killed included Fu’ad Muhammad Keleif, Al-Shabaab’s Propaganda Chief, Abdulaziz Abu Musa, Spokesperson of the group and Ubeda Nur Isse, Head of Al-Shabaab’s Bokol Zone and the Ethiopian borders.
National Defense Force Deployment Head and Acting Security Command Post Coordinator Major General Tesfaye Ayalew said that weapons and supply depots of the terrorist group were destroyed in an operation carried out in collaboration with the Ethiopian Air Force. Furthermore, leaders and militants of the terrorist Al-Shabaab were also killed during the operation. So far, more than 150 members of the terrorist group have been killed.
In a statement released on 23 July 2022, the Somali Regional State announced that it has annihilated members of Al-Shabaab group at Hulhul kebele. The statement indicated that the terrorist group had a plan to join its ally of terrorist Shene by getting the Oromia State through Elkere woreda. However, the group was obliterated before engaging in the unholy marriage whereas all of its 13 vehicles were captured.
More than 100 members of the terrorist group were killed in a military operation that took three days. During these three days, the state people have supported its Special Forces with food and drink, live animals, clothes and blood donation.
“A united people and functioning state can never be intimidated by ragtag outfits like Al-Shabaab. Our gallant special forces are once again proving that the peace in the region is not at the mercy of terrorists. Lunch with the heroes who annihilated AS at Huluul, Afdheer zone,” Mustafe Mohammed, President of the Somali Region tweeted on 24 July 2022.
Mustefe also discussed with more than 1500 Somali Region Religious leaders, who later issued a statement rejecting Al-Shabab’s violent ideology and declared the fight against the group a religious duty. They commended the successful security operations that foiled the terrorists’ attack.
The leaders have condemned the recent invasion and aggression of terrorist Al-Shabaab in the region. They also expressed appreciation and support for the victory that the regional security forces and the national army achieved against the terrorist group. The religious leaders urged the people to support security forces.
Last Tuesday, The Somali Regional Security Council held its weekly meeting led by State President. The overall security situation of the region was evaluated and direction was set to strengthen peace and security around the border.
These days, Ethiopia is working on strengthening its security institutions aimed at installing lasting peace and ensuring rule of law. In this regard, controlling anti-peace elements before inflicting misconduct is the primary measures that push the government to build strong intelligence institution. On 30 July, the National Intelligence Security Service (NISS) Director General Temesgen Tiruneh said that the institutional reform has enabled his organization to advance in coverage and quality of the country’s intelligence locally and abroad. This built the national capability to deter various assaults perpetrated by terrorist groups.
He noted that the national defense force has obliterated the members of the Al-Shabaab terrorist groups while many of the infiltrators were apprehended with their armaments. Moreover, the Al-Shabaab attempt to cooperate with terrorist Shene for attack was shut off by the strong effort of the NISS. Tiruneh further said that the productive works of his organization also enabled the government to detain infiltrators before they inflict any assault.
The organization is working on various issues that raise its acceptance, ascendancy, and that build confidence among citizens. The public is increasing its participation in providing information to NISS, the regional governments to use the information provided by NISS. In addition to this, similar foreign organizations are showing keenness to work together with the Service. “We are making productive work in building an intelligence organization that is respected by citizens and scared by enemies,” Temesgen said.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia is working with neighboring states in the fight against anti-peace elements. The country has agreed with Somalia in strengthening cooperation for a peaceful Horn of Africa. On July 15, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Demeke Mekonnen held a discussion with Somalia’s Acting Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Balal Mohammed Osman.
During the discussion, Demeke noted that the two countries should step up efforts mainly in the fight against terrorism. Somalia’s Acting Foreign Minister Balal Mohamed Osman stated that the country’s new administration has given peace the topmost priority and that it would continue to cooperate with Ethiopia in this regard. The minister pointed out that the partnership of the two countries should be strengthened in the efforts to destroy the terrorist group Al-Shabaab.
Of late, a delegation led by Major General Tesfaye Ayalew, arrived in Somalia to discuss issues about the fight against Al-Shabaab terrorist group. The delegation is expected to consult with the Somali Defense Army and the security leadership of the Hirshabelle State of Somalia, in south-central Somalia, which is located on the border with Ethiopia to the west.
Al-Shabaab’s recent attack against Ethiopia shows the terrorist organization’s aim of becoming the recognized government in Somalia. “The recent attack on Ethiopia was primarily intended to serve as propaganda against Ethiopia. These fighters were sent to Ethiopia by Al-Shabaab with the knowledge that they would never succeed or survive. The leaders of the group, however, spread this falsehood about attacking Ethiopia to recruit new youths,” security expert Abebe Muluneh told local media.
Abebe emphasizes that the case against Al-Shabaab can only be resolved if the horn countries conduct a quick operation at the same time. He believes al-Shabab might be destroyed with a well-planned military operation. Therefore, the military forces of Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Djibouti must be combined in order to carry out a massive operation at once, according to him. “Al-Shabaab can only be totally eliminated using this strategy once and for all,” the expert noted.
To sum up, in addition to strengthening its security institutions, Ethiopia needs to invest more in cooperating with the neighboring countries to build a powerful regional bloc that works on security to ensure lasting peace.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 4 AUGUST 2022
