MOGADISHU (SD) – Somali president, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has held talks with Ethiopia’s military chief and the president of Oromia state ahead of the elections.

According to reliable sources, the two Ethiopian officials landed last Friday in Mogadishu and stayed the country for hours.

Ethiopian Defence Forces (ENDF) boss General Birhanu Jula Gelalcha and the leader of Oromia, Shimelis Abdisa held closed-door meeting with Farmajo. Insiders who are privy to talks said the sides discussed the upcoming elections and Ethiopian troops in Somalia.

Somali government did comment on the talks Villa Somalia.

The development comes amid emerged reports that hundreds of Somali soldiers were killed in Tigray region.

The former deputy head of Somali Intelligence chief Abdisalam Geleid claimed that over 300 soldiers deployed in Ethiopia by Somali government to fight Tigray regional government, were killed.

Neither Somali government nor Ethiopian government have commented on the allegations.