
“Hassan Sheikh is not capable of fighting. He must first secure Mogadishu before he can even consider confronting us. He should first secure his seat” – Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, Chief of the General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (08.10.2024).
This here is a commentary by the neighbour that got to hurt the Pride of the Villa Somalia. The Federation of Somalia is already shaking and there are commonly trouble between leaders of the states and the federal leadership in Mogadishu. That’s why there are stalemates and discussions for the modalities ahead of polls and postponements of such too.
That the Field Marshal of Ethiopia says this now is interesting. As the foreign troops are deployed in Somalia and helping the Somali National Army (SNA). That is necessary because the Federation doesn’t have the capabilities or the strong enough army to combat or annihilate the Al-Shabaab. Therefore, the peacekeepers in co-ordination of SNA are in need to secure the safety of the nation.
It is really striking that an Army Commander of another Sovereign Neighbour is stating this. That must be humiliating to the Somali President. The Federation of Somalia and the lawmakers there. As someone can say this with arrogance and with entitlement too. He just says it like nothing during an interview.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his appointees should take a stance. They should show they have the guts and the ability to govern. Not just be mere token soldiers in the capital. Because that’s what the outsiders thinks. This is really a loss for the Republic and the Federation itself. Which is always into turmoil and prolonged discussions ahead of the polls. Therefore, we will see more of this coming, as states and leaders wants the upper-hand.
It is a powerful stance, but its not a new one. It just shows the power-dynamics between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu. When the ones in Ethiopia can speak like this and not fear any sort of retribution for saying so. That’s why HSM and his fellow allies got to show fierce force and be resilience, but at the same time reflect on the words spoken about them.
It is utter embarrassing, even if it is partly true. The peacekeepers and foreign troops wouldn’t be there if the Somali Army was strong enough to contain the rebels or the militias from taking control of own territories. That’s the bleak reality here and a loss of sovereign as a result too. As the Villa Somalia and the lawmakers are bound by the foreigners to keep their house in order. Which in the end… makes everything fragile and continue to plague the nation with instability.
HSM is in office for the second time and he should know this hurts. He should know that he has too boost confidence and prove his value. Especially, when the Ethiopian are already interfering and also taking sides in regards to Hargeisa, Somaliland. Therefore, something got to give… it got to give. That’s the truth here.
This isn’t a moment of gold, but of epic failure that has stagnated over time. Peace.