On Thursday night, suspected al-Shabab militants fired ten mortar shells at an Ethiopian military base located in the Hudur district of the Bakool region.
Residents reported that Ethiopian troops returned fire with artillery, though the number of casualties remains unknown.
No official statements have been issued by the African Union peacekeeping mission (ATMIS), the Southwest regional state administration, or the federal government.
This attack occurs in the wake of the Southwest regional state administration’s opposition to the Somali federal government’s plan to withdraw Ethiopian troops by December 2024, as the AMISOM mission concludes.
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that it has not received any official communication from the Somali government regarding the troop withdrawal. Ministry spokesperson Nabiu Tedla asserted that Ethiopia has not been formally informed by Somali officials.
The diplomatic relationship between Ethiopia and Somalia has suffered since January 1, when Ethiopia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Somaliland administration, which allows Ethiopia sea access and a military base in exchange for potential recognition of Somaliland.
