Somalia: Ethiopian aircrafts allowed in Kismayo after alleged plans to abduct Madobe

KISMAYO, Somalia - Tensions between Jubaland and Ethiopia seems to be easing after months of a frosty relationship, with Kismayo allowing aircraft from Addis Ababa to access its territories, in a dramatic move that could define future relations at the Horn of Africa.

For months now, Jubaland has been at loggerheads with Ethiopia, often accusing Addis Ababa of "violation of territorial integrity" by "illegally" deploying Ethiopian troops to Gedo, a move which they claim is engineered by the federal government in Mogadishu.

But over the weekend, an Ethiopian aircraft was sighted at Kismayo airport, further reaffirming possible renewed friendship between the two parties, although still engulfed in suspicions and caution, given the scrutiny the plane was subjected to.

In some of the videos released from the airport, the plane which was carrying among others, tents, tires, and repairs, was screened multiple times, something which also indicates deep suspicions between the two parties.

According to officials, the plane was not carrying ENDF troops. Ethiopia, a source said, had asked Jubaland authorities to allow the aircrafts carrying essentials for ENDF to access Kismayo airport for easy delivery within regions that are under the troops' jurisdiction in Jubaland.

There are close to 4,500 ENDF troops in Somalia with an additional 1,000 who are not enlisted in AMISOM. The troops are in charge of Sectors III and VI mainly within Jubaland state, where they have been fighting Al-Shabaab militants for almost a decade.

It was the first time an Ethiopian aircraft was allowed in Kismayo in as many months, following the August 2019 incident that saw an Ethiopian military aircraft blocked from landing in the seaport town after a section of Jubaland forces barricaded the runaway.

Later, the federal government of Somalia, which was hell-bent to influence Jubaland polls, accused Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] of using the situation to "impose" Ahmed Islam Mohamed alias Madobe as the regional leader "contrary" to the views of the majority.

Although Madobe would be announced the winner, the state has been playing host to fierce battles involving the Somali National Army [SNA] and Jubaland forces within the Gedo region, where the KDF and ENDF are also closely blamed of taking sides.

But a fortnight ago, a top Ethiopian party official claimed that there have been secret plans to have Madobe kidnapped and taken to Ethiopia, a scheme which he said was organized by Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed and Eritrea President Isaias Afwerki.

Getachew Reda, an executive committee member of the TPLF party, told Tigray TV in an interview that the two leaders "conspired" to have Ahmed Madobe kidnapped and deported to Ethiopia, where he was set to face "criminal" proceedings.

While it's not clear when such a plan was mooted, the regional leader has been at loggerheads with President Farmajo, leading to persistent clashes in the Gedo region between SNA and Jubaland forces, something that has attracted retribution from the international community.

In the plan, he said, Ethiopian commandos were dispatched to Kismayo, the regional administrative capital of Jubaland, but their plan "failed to materialize" due to logical challenges. However, the official did not disclose the exact date or time when such a plan was to be executed.

"He's been notorious for regional stability," he said in reference to the Ethiopian PM, adding that, "together with Afwerki, they planned to kidnap Madobe from Kismayo, this is how dangerous these people are for democracy."

"They dispatched commandos to Kismayo but their plans didn't materialize. As we speak, Madobe could have been somewhere incarcerated. We can't allow dictators to pretend to be democrats wherein the real sense, they are out to ruin others," he noted during the interview.

But critics believe that the plot was to be executed when the Ethiopian military plane was blocked at Kismayo just a day to regional elections. Garowe Online could not, however, independently establish the weighty allegations.

Madobe and Farmajo are yet to meet in as many months, but there have been calls from the international community for the two to meet and iron their differences. In April, Madobe reconciled with his local competitors in Nairobi.

While details about the looming cooperation between Jubaland and Ethiopia remain scanty, the state, however, demanded last month for withdrawal of Ethiopian non-AMISOM troops from Gedo, a region where Farmajo is slowly gaining control.

The troops, the state said, were "Intruders" with an aim of destabilizing the region for easy governance by Mogadishu authorities, adding that "we demand that AU and UN call out this naked aggression against Jubaland people".

GAROWE ONLINE