Ethiopian government has denied social media reports alleging that Ethiopia was involved with illegal arms traders who smuggled weapons into Somalia from the Ethiopian border on July 15.
Ethiopian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nebiyu Tedla told VOA on Tuesday that the issue is unrelated to Ethiopia and emphasized that “it falls within the responsibility of the federal government of Somalia to manage the registration, handling, and distribution of weapons at the national level.”
When asked whether the Ethiopian government sold the weapons to the Somali government or private business people, Tedla declined to comment.
At least 12 people were killed when government soldiers and local militias fought over two truckloads of weapons brought over the border from Ethiopia. The incident occurred in Shiilamow village, about 20 kilometers northwest of Abudwak, near the Ethiopian border.
The Internal Security Ministry reported that government security forces had seized the weapons from “illegal weapons traders” and were escorting them when armed militias erected a checkpoint and intercepted the arms. According to an official, the local militias overpowered government forces after receiving reinforcements from clan members.
No group has claimed ownership of the weapons, and the Somali government is investigating the issue.
