(26-09-23) DOLOW — An armed standoff escalated into fighting on Tuesday between Somali police forces and Ethiopian troops in the Dolow district, Gedo region. The hostilities ignited after Somali forces rejected an Ethiopian directive to take over strategic control points within the district.
The skirmishes unfolded over several hours and concluded without any reported casualties. Ethiopian troops have since withdrawn to their bases, while Somali police maintain their previous positions in Dolow.
In an added layer of complexity, tensions are also escalating between Colonel Barre Adan Shire Hiraale and Ethiopian forces. Colonel Hiraale, who has long been in opposition to the Jubaland administration in the Gedo region, was ordered by Ethiopian forces to vacate Dolow. Rejecting the command, the colonel has fortified defences in strategic parts of the district as a countermeasure against possible attacks.
Speaking to Halqabsi News, Colonel Hiraale confirmed that he is prepared to engage in combat with Ethiopian forces should they attempt to arrest or attack him.
Despite the inflamed tensions and the potentially serious implications for Jubaland stability, neither the federal Somali government nor the Jubaland administration has commented on the unfolding crisis in Dolow. This silence is especially notable given the ongoing disputes between the Gedo region and the Jubaland administration.
Halqabsi News
