Ethiopia reportedly responsible for reducing coronavirus jet supply

05/11/2020 Ethiopia



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Media reports say a recently downed Kenyan private jet in Somalia was shot by troops deployed from Ethiopia. So far, the African Union Somalia mission, AMISOM, has only called for a joint investigation.

The Kenyan media, including the Daily Nation newspaper, claim that Ethiopian troops operating within Somalia, but not assigned to the African Union (AU) mission AMISON, mistakenly shot down the Kenyan cargo plane on last Monday.

The plane, an Embraer EMB 120 carrying medical and humanitarian supplies to handle potential coronavirus cases, crashed as it approached Bardale in central Somalia, reportedly killing all six of its occupants.

AMISON said Tuesday that it welcomed the decision by the leaders of “Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia to investigate the incident” that allegedly involved the launch of a rocket.

Daily Nation, and other media, cited an AMISOM “preliminary report” Saturday that reveals Ethiopian troops “not belonging to AMISOM” guarding the Bardale airstrip were surprised by the “unusual” flight approach. of the airplane.

‘Unusual’ flight approach

Troops suspected the plane was a “suicide bomber,” the Daily Nation said, adding that the plane’s crew had approached Bardale unusually from the west.

It was flying closer to the ground and its arrival had not been reported in advance, the newspaper said, citing AMISOM in Mogadishu.

On Tuesday, the UA mission said the aircraft, operated by African Express Airways, registered in Kenya, had made its flight from Mogadishu through Baidoa.

‘Clarifying the circumstances’

AMISOM chief of mission Francisco Madeira said the joint investigation will aim to “clarify the circumstances surrounding this incident.”