Ethiopian security forces have detained and interrogated over 200 Somali military trainees who crossed the international border into Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State without legal travel authorization.
The incident, which took place over the weekend, has drawn intense scrutiny amidst an already fragile diplomatic climate between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa.
According to regional security sources, between 180 and 230 personnel belonging to the Somali National Army (SNA) were intercepted by Ethiopian authorities after crossing into the border town of Ferfer.
The soldiers, who were reportedly unarmed at the time of their detention, were subsequently transferred to the regional capital of Jigjiga for formal questioning.
Local authorities stated that the mass movement of military-aged individuals without formal documentation or prior diplomatic clearance triggered immediate security protocols, leading to their containment.
Route Taken to Avoid Al-Shabaab Threats
In a statement addressing the incident, Somalia’s National Security Adviser, Aways Haji Yusuf, confirmed that the troops were currently in Ethiopian custody but downplayed allegations of desertion.
Yusuf clarified that the personnel were part of a newly minted batch of troops who recently completed a Saudi Arabia-funded military training program at the Xananbuure camp in central Somalia’s Galgaduud region.
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