By Abal Tadele, reporter
Addis Ababa (Somalistandard)- The Ethiopian government announced that its disbanding the special police forces in the Somali region to integrate them Ethiopian Federal, Military and the Police forces respectively, according to the state-affiliated FANA news agency.
This move comes in the aftermath of the conflict in the Tigray region, where the local army clashed with the central government forces.
The decision to dissolve the special police forces in the Somali region is seen as a step towards addressing the issues that arose during the conflict in Tigray.
The Tigray conflict, which erupted in 2020, resulted in widespread violence, displacement of civilians, and allegations of human rights abuses.
The conflict highlighted the need for reforms in the Ethiopian security forces, including issues related to command structure, accountability, and coordination among different branches of the military and police.
The decision to integrate the Ethiopian Federal Forces with the Military and the Police is expected to streamline the command structure and enhance coordination among different branches of the security forces.
According to the government, the move is aimed at improving the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the security forces in addressing internal security challenges and maintaining law and order.
The Ethiopian government has not yet released any statement regarding the the Somali region’s special police forces, also known as Liyu Police.
The Liyu Police has been known to operate with significant autonomy in the Somali region and has been accused of human rights abuses in the past.
The government’s decision to disband the paramilitary force is expected to have significant implications for the security situation in the Somali region.
This decision by the Ethiopian government comes at a critical time as the country is grappling with various internal security challenges, including inter-ethnic conflicts, cross-border insurgencies, and border disputes.
It remains to be seen how this restructuring of the security forces will impact the security situation in Ethiopia and whether it will lead to improved coordination and accountability among the different branches of the security forces.
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