Ethiopia and Kenya have devoted themselves to enhancing their joint efforts in counter-terrorism as the chief intelligence officials from both countries assembled in Addis Ababa. The officials promised to strengthen coordinated procedures against regional terrorist groups, especially the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), which has been involved in a series of violent happenings along their shared border.
Kenya’s intelligence boss, Gen. Nuredin Mohammed Haji, headed a delegation to meet with Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) leader, Redwan Hussien, according to a statement from the Ethiopian Press Agency. The discussions concentrated on the escalating threat posed by the OLA, a militant party that has recently intensified its activities in the region.
Ethiopian intelligence officials informed that the OLA was responsible for the recent kidnapping of two South Korean nationals, who were later given over to al-Shabaab, a notorious terrorist organization linked to al-Qaeda. The OLA, once part of a restricted opposition party that resurfaced from exile in 2018, has been charged with numerous criminal acts, including kidnapping, looting, property demolition, and illicit mining operations.
The resentments driving the OLA stem from longstanding insistence on marginalization by the Oromo people, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, with an assessed population of 35 million. These problems have fueled the group’s insurgency, complicating actions by the Ethiopian government to support stability in the region.
In reaction to these rising security threats, Ethiopian and Kenyan intelligence agencies decided to take immediate actions aimed at curbing cross-border smuggling, illicit arms trafficking, and the illicit extraction of minerals. The two nations are set to launch coordinated functions to prevent these criminal activities from further destabilizing the region.
Both sides also emphasised the importance of pursuing peaceful resolutions to the ongoing conflict in Sudan, pledging backing for efforts aimed at restoring peace and peace in the war-torn country. As East Africa faces increasing threats from militant groups, the obligation of Ethiopia and Kenya to maintain their intelligence and counter-terrorism partnership could be crucial in countering the impact of terrorist organizations in the region.
Furthermore, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has applauded the Ethiopian forces for their meaningful contribution to reviving peace and stability in the Hirshabelle area.
Presiding over the medal ceremony in Beletweyne, ATMIS Military Chief of Staff, Brig. Gen. KinduGezu, commended the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) at the Mahas Forward Operation Base (FOB), for their strong connection with the local community during their time of duty in the Hiran region. “I had a chance to watch a video of their departure from Mahas, which touched my heart. I could see the emotions of the local community, because of the strong relations between the soldiers and residents,” stated Brig. Gen. Gezu.
