afrol News, 28 November - Ethiopian government has announced its plan for final withdrawal in Somalia by the end of 2008, the Foreign Ministry statement has revealed.

Foreign ministry, spokesman Wahide Bellay said the country has resolved that it was inappropriate to be keeping and managing troops in neighbouring Somalia yet Somali Transitional government has shown no commitment to peace process.

Ethiopian troops, now estimated at around 3,000, were meant to back the embattled transitional government, but despite their support, little has been achieved in regaining control and stability in the country.

Analysts have however indicated that Ethiopia's withdrawal in war torn Somalia, is likely to worsen the humanitarian situation.

However, Ethiopian government said it has done its part in ensuring stability in Somalia, claiming that international community has been aloof from Somali crisis, which gave them a challenge in battling insurgency in Somali. "We will withdraw in a responsible manner," he said.

Ethiopian troops have frequently clashed with Somali Islamic hard-liners who had gained control of most the south before they were ousted in 2006, as they were making advances and waging daily attacked on government troops and the AU peacekeepers in Mogadishu, Somali capital.

The AU chairman Jean Ping said the Ethiopian withdrawal from Somalia would have dire consequences for civilians including unstable government.

He said he foresees disaster in Somalia as 3,600 AU peacekeepers have also threatened to pullout if a smooth transition is not guaranteed.

Thousands of civilians have been killed in the fighting and hundreds of thousands have fled the capital. More than 2 million people are dependent on food aid in Somalia, and control of aid often has provoked fighting among Somalia's clan-based warlords.

Somalia has not had a stable government since 1991. Islamist rebels reportedly took over Mogadishu briefly along with other areas in central and southern Somalia before Somali and Ethiopian armed forces ousted them in early 2007.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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