Top intelligence officials from Ethiopia and Kenya have pledged to strengthen their collaboration in combating terrorism, particularly the threat posed by the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) along their shared border.
The Kenyan delegation, led by intelligence chief General Nuredin Mohammed Haji, met with his Ethiopian counterpart, Redwan Hussien, in Addis Ababa on Wednesday to discuss strategies for countering the escalating activities of the OLA, which has been linked to kidnappings, looting, and other criminal acts.
The two sides agreed to coordinate operations to prevent and disrupt the OLA’s operations, especially in light of its recent kidnapping of two South Korean nationals and its involvement in facilitating the activities of al-Shabaab, another terrorist group operating in the region.
Ethiopian authorities have accused the OLA of marginalizing and neglecting the Oromo people, the country’s largest ethnic group, leading to grievances that have fueled the group’s violent activities.
To address these concerns, the intelligence chiefs pledged to launch immediate actions to curtail smuggling, illegal arms trafficking, and illicit mining activities.
They also emphasized the importance of a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Sudan and vowed to support efforts to restore stability in the region.