Somehow, he was entrapped in Eritrea’s power consolidation strategy in a three-way alliance involving strongmen in Eritrea, Somalia, and Ethiopia. For Abiy, Eritrea and Somalia are strategic outlets to the sea. Turning Jubaland into an anti-Kenyan buffer zone using Ethiopia would possibly lure Ethiopia to endorse Somali claims to Kenyan waters. Fighting broke out in Tigray, Abiy sent troops to smother the ‘rebels’, and turned to Kenya to try mending fences. While Mesfin wanted Abiy out of office, Abiy succeeded in dispatching Mesfin to another galaxy.

Source: Standard Digital January 24, 2021 21:00 UTC