Kenya and Ethiopia sign deal for joint operations against Al-Shabaab
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Staff reporter GAROWE ONLINE
- Posted On 16-02-2022, 03:04PM
ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia and Kenya have signed a major agreement that paves way for joint operations in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants and the Shene terror group which operates predominantly in Ethiopia.
Both Al-Shabaab and Shene groups have been designated as terror groups in Ethiopia and Somalia, where they have been linked to the deaths of innocent civilians and security officers. The groups have been fighting the respective governments.
State-owned Fana reported that the joint cooperation will improve peace and stability in the two sisterly countries. While Kenya is prone to Al-Shabaab attacks, Ethiopia, despite being a neighbor to Somalia, has managed to keep the group at bay.
However, the Shene group which operates in Ethiopia has been antagonizing the administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is also battling to reclaim the Tigray region having fallen out with leaders from the Tigray community.
The assertion came at a time when Ethiopian Federal Police Commissioner General Demelash Gebremichael received the third Inspector General of the Kenyan National Police Service Commission, Hilary Nzioki Mutyambai at his office and held a discussion on issues of mutual concern.
According to the Ethiopian media, the two top police officers agreed to launch a joint operation against Al-Shabab and Shene groups to stop hostile activities by the two organizations. It is stated on the occasion that the two countries will sign MoU for the joint operation within a month.
He said Ethiopia and Kenya agreed to enhance cooperation in the exchange of information, adding that the MoU will enable the countries to ensure cross-border peace and security. Ethiopia and Kenya have not had serious security partnerships in the past.
In Somalia, the two countries deployed troops which are fighting along with the Somali National Army within the African Union Mission Forces [AMISOM]. They have a combined force of about 8,000 soldiers in the war-torn nation.
GAROWE ONLINE
