Eritrea-trained Somali soldiers to be deployed in Jubbaland: Reports

A group of Eritrea-trained Somali soldiers is set to be deployed in Somalia’s Jubbaland state to take part in the ongoing offensive against Al-Shabaab terrorists, according to local media on Thursday.

Eritrea has trained 5,000 Somali soldiers in the past three years and some 500 soldiers have recently been repatriated with the remaining soldiers set to return to the country in few weeks.

At least 1000 of these soldiers are expected to be deployed in Jubbaland state’s towns of Afmadow and Jilib to support the regional state’s forces in liberating territories under Al-Shabaab terrorists.

The decision came at the request of Jubbaland’s leader Ahmed Islam Madobe in his recent meeting with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre in Mogadishu.

The Somali government is keen to widen the offensive to Jubbaland and South West states after successes in the states of Hirshabelle and Galmudug.