Ethiopia and Kenya have pledged enhanced cooperation in counter-terrorism, as top intelligence officials from both nations committed to bolstering joint efforts.
This was discussed during a meeting in Addis Ababa between Kenyan intelligence chief Gen. Nuredin Mohammed Haji and Ethiopia’s NISS chief Redwan Hussien.
The meeting focused on addressing the escalating threat posed by the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), a terrorist group operating along their shared border.
Both sides vowed to intensify coordinated operations to counter ongoing regional security risks, particularly targeting OLA activities.
The Ethiopian intelligence office revealed that the OLA is linked to several criminal activities, including the recent kidnapping of two South Korean nationals, who were later handed over to al-Shabaab, another terrorist group with ties to Al-Qaeda.
This heightened concerns over cross-border terrorism.
The OLA, a renegade faction of a previously banned opposition group, has been blamed for kidnappings, property destruction, and illegal mining.
The group’s grievances stem from perceived marginalization of the Oromo people, Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, numbering around 35 million.
In response to growing security challenges, Ethiopian and Kenyan agencies agreed on immediate actions against smuggling, arms trafficking, and illegal mineral trade.
They also highlighted the importance of peaceful conflict resolution in Sudan and pledged support for restoring regional stability.
