Ethiopian Troops Mass on Border With Somalia

Abayomi Azikiwe (right), editor of the Pan-African News Wire, along with (right to left) David Sole of MECAWI, Mike Kelly of Finding Alternatives to Military Enlistment (FAME) and Derrick Grigsby of MECAWI. (Photo: Cheryl LaBash, WW)., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)

Somalia: Fresh Ethiopian Troops Mass in Luq Town, Gedo Province

Luq — Columns of armoured vehicles and military pick-up tracks carrying numerous units of Ethiopian troops are reportedly massed into the Somalia's border town of Luq located in Gedo province for battle.

Somali national army (SNA) commanders in the area say the Ethiopian troops set up military bases on the suburbs of the town, where they are planning major offensive against the remaining towns and locations controlled by Al Qaeda-linked militants of Al shabab.

"The troops made trenches and barricades in a bid to tighten their military grip in the region which is currently a battlefront for Somali government forces and Al Shabaab militants in the past three years," a resident who asked not to be named, told Shabelle Media Network by phone.

The situation is reported tense and looming as locals are fearful of possible fighting.