Council praises positive steps taken to reduce internal vulnerability, national security

Addis Ababa, August 8, 2022 (FBC) – The National Security Council has reviewed activities carried out during the past months to ensure peace and security in line with priority areas that have been identified so far, and issued a statement accordingly.

According to the statement, to fully destroy the OLF-Shene terrorist group, command posts of Shewa, Wollega and Guji have been formed in Oromia Region. The national Defence Force, Oromia Region leadership and security forces are undertaking coordinated deployment to this end. Statement indicates that 3,280 militants of Shene have been captured, and others refused to surrender to the government forces have been destroyed.

A large number of accomplices and cells of Aba Torbe, Al-Shabab and the TPLF Junta have been captured and private weapons, bullets, vehicles and currencies used by the groups have been seized, the statement says.

Out of the 1,739 villages destroyed by the Shene Group, 1,255 are restored and 47,558 households are reinstated to their residential places, the Council stated.

Similarly, a large number of suspects have been arrested in a coordinated operation carried out by security forces, regional leadership and the community at large. Some of the suspects are those defected from security forces to strengthen illegal armed group while the other are fugitives.

Security forces have taken measures on armed militants who were working to instigate communal violence in allegiance with the terrorist TPLF.

Public consultation forums directly involving participation of more than 6.6 million people have been held across the nation, the Council said, adding that measures ranging from first level warning to arrests have been taken on members of leadership and professional in public institutions.

In June 21, the Somali Region plaid a big role in repelling the Al-Shabab militants who attempted to encroach territory of the country via Baret and Got districts of Afder Zone. The Somali Regional leadership mobilizing and involving the people took an exemplary measure against the enemy, the Council said. Saying that a command post including the national army is established, the council indicated that 813 Al-Shabab militants were killed while 79 others captured in a join operation. A large number of arms, bullets, explosives and communication devices have also been seized, according to the statement.

Checkpoints have reinforces to control contraband and risky corridors are well identified, the Committee stated, stressing need to strengthen efforts to fully prevent the illegal activity, Council noted.

Reiterating government’s commitment to resolve the conflict in the North peacefully, the Council said it has evaluated the security situation in the area based on a report delivered to it. Situation is under control of the security forces ‘to the point where it is not a threat’, the Council said.

The Council lauded the positive steps taken in terms of reducing internal vulnerability and ensuring national security, calling the general public to support the efforts underway to ensure peace and stability.