Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Addis Standard
Published on 2024-04-01 11:12:34
Local officials in the Bale zone of the Oromia region have refuted claims that al-Shabaab, an Islamist insurgent group based in Somalia, is operating in the area and has killed several zonal police officers and militiamen. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) released a report in March 2024 detailing security challenges in the Bale Zone, including the formation of a terrorist group called al-Shabaab in Bale Forest by foreigners trained in Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda.
Assistant commissioner Jeylan Aman, head of the Bale Zone Police, mentioned in the report that the group recruited members and provided them with combat training, resulting in the deaths of several zonal police officers and militiamen. However, he later stated that there is no evidence of al-Shabaab operating in the Bale zone, and no civilians or security force members were killed by the group in the area.
Nata Dhaba, head of the communications office in the neighboring East Bale zone, confirmed that in October 2023, four alleged al-Shabaab members were captured and one was killed in action, with all others handed over to the National Defense Forces. Despite rumors of the group’s presence in the border areas of Oromia and Somali regions, the East Bale zone has not found any evidence of al-Shabaab in their surveillance efforts.
The East Bale zone shares borders with the Somali region, which has an extended border with Somalia, a known base for the al-Shabaab militant group. In a previous incident in July 2022, al-Shabaab entered the Somali region of Ethiopia through the Afdheer zone after attacking towns in the Bakool region of southwestern Somalia.
In 2001, the Oromia regional government disclosed the apprehension of a group linked to al-Shabaab, named ‘Kawarija,’ in the Dalo Mana district of the Bale zone. This group recruited and trained individuals for military purposes, posing a potential security threat to the region.
Despite these incidents, officials maintain that there is no active presence of al-Shabaab in the Bale zone, and the group does not pose a security threat in the East Bale zone. Measures have been taken to address any potential risks associated with the group’s activities, and surveillance efforts continue to ensure the safety and security of the region.
In conclusion, while concerns regarding al-Shabaab’s activities in Ethiopia persist, local officials are vigilant in monitoring the situation and taking necessary precautions to prevent any potential threats posed by the insurgent group.
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