MOGADISHU, Somalia – The government of Ethiopia has strongly refuted claims by Somalia-based Al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab that it killed 167 ENDF soldiers.
Speaking to VOA Somali Service, the ambassador of Ethiopia in Mogadishu termed Al-Shabaab claims as “propaganda and baseless”, adding that no single soldier was killed.
Mukhtar Mohamed Waare said Al-Shabaab has no capability to engage in a long-hour battle with the Ethiopian forces in Somalia, praising his country’s army for being bold and brave.
Al-Shabaab said in a statement its fighters attacked two Ethiopian convoys in the Bakool region, heading to Hudur and Wajid. The group added that 167 soldiers died in the attack.
“They can try to attack Ethiopian National Defence forces but can not engage in 10-minute gunfire with them,” said the ambassador during the interview on Sunday following the raid.
Waare added that ENDF soldiers are professional, well-equipped, and organized to face the threat of Al-Shabaab. His remarks come amid intensified military operation in Somalia.
Ethiopia has thousands of soldiers in Somalia, some are part of the AU mission and the others are operating under a security pact between the two Horn of Africa neighboring countries.
The attacked EDNF soldiers were not serving under the African Union transition mission [ATMIS] based in Mogadishu. The number of the soldiers killed in the attack remains unclear.
