Ethiopia’s Somali regional state has issued a statement denying that it supports the Somalia conflicts by sending troops to aid clan militias in restive Las Anod town, as claimed by the self-proclaimed republic of Somaliland.
“We are telling the Somaliland administration that there are no DDS [Ethiopia’s Somali regional state] troops who are part of the violence in Las Anod,” state-owned Somali Regional TV (SRTV) said on Facebook on Thursday.
It condemned the allegations which it termed “reckless”, adding that Somaliland was looking to lessen political pressure by pointing fingers at non-existing foes.
Additionally, it cautioned Somaliland officials against saying or doing anything that might incite resentment between the communities in the Somalian area that broke away and those in the state in the southeast of Ethiopia.
The announcement came hours after the cabinet of Somaliland urged Ethiopia’s regional government to withdraw soldiers it claimed were supporting the Somalia conflicts by aiding clan militias engaged in combat with Somaliland forces on the outskirts of Las Anod since February 6.