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Somalia’s Army Commander says he is unsure frontline countries will participate in the planned military operations against al-Shabaab despite earlier commitment, it doesn’t appear to him that troops from Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti will participate in the second phase of operations dubbed “Operation Black Lion.”
Major General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhudin told @i_dossier in his first interview since his appointment that it doesn’t appear to him that troops from Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti will participate in the second phase of “Operation Black Lion” – given their preparations.
Muhudin says the countries did not inform them about whether they are still willing to participate, “There is a preparation before an operation, I don’t see the preparation,” he said, “We are waiting for them but I don’t see they can be part of what we are working on now, considering their preparation.”
But a senior Kenya defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity said their position has not changed, “From our perspective we are still committed to Operation Black Lion,” the official said.
It appears the operation will at least be delayed, The deputy president of Jubaland Mohamud Sayid Aden who is in Doolow town, where Ethiopia military activities have been taking place said there is a “delay in the timing” of the operation.
Muhudin is not giving up hope that the frontline countries could play a role in the offensive, “If things change and they come back we’ll welcome, if they don’t return you can figure out that we are not going to sit around; the task awaits us,” he said.
