Ethiopia pulls out more troops from Somalia for 'lack of support'
Ethiopian soldiers: Official says the withdrawn troops were not from Ethiopia's 4,400-strong contingent of the internationally-funded AMISOM. PHOTO | FILE |
Ethiopia on Wednesday denied that a string of withdrawals of troops from towns in Somalia were connected to the state of emergency declared in response to nearly a year of anti-government protests.
Government spokesman Getachew Reda insisted the removal of troops from a string of Somali towns — including at least three since Ethiopia declared a six-month state of emergency on October 9 — was to do with the "financial burden" and "lack of support" rather than the need for more troops at home.
