Baladweyne (Alshahid) — Ethiopian troops have reportedly pulled from bases they have been deployed in Baladweyne town in central Somalia, witnesses said on Monday.
The Ethiopian troops crossed the border and captured the town from Al-Shabaab insurgents on Saturday.
Residents said more Ethiopian troops with about 15 armoured vehicles left bases in the Western of Baladweyne and were heading to the border between the two countries.
But unconfirmed reports said the Ethiopian troops left towards Bulobarde town under the control of Al-Shabaab.
There is no word from the Somali l government about the withdrawal of the Ethiopian troops from Baladweyne town in central Somalia.
Government soldiers attacked Bulobarde town last Thursday, but Al-Shabaab rebels forced the government soldiers to retreat back to Baladweyne.
This month alone, several central and southern Somali towns have changed hands between insurgents groups and forces loyal to fragile UN-backed transition government.
Ethiopian troops completely withdrew from Somalia in early this year after two years of military occupation. However, Addis Ababa amassed its troops at the border where they frequently crossed the border in what Ethiopia says is “small reconnaissance missions”.
