Ethiopia and Kenya are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to combat Al Shabab, enhancing their cooperation in joint security operations. The announcement was made by Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), following talks with a Kenyan military delegation led by General Charles Kahariri, Chief of the Kenya Defense Forces.
Birhanu revealed that a draft MoU has been prepared and is expected to be signed within two weeks. This agreement will focus on strengthening cooperation between the two countries to combat the growing threat of Al Shabab, particularly in border areas shared with Somalia, where the militant group has carried out attacks.
Al Shabab’s presence poses a serious threat to both Ethiopia and Kenya, especially in regions along their shared border with Somalia. The group has carried out several attacks in these areas, including a significant assault on Ethiopia’s Somali region in 2022, which was successfully repelled by Ethiopian forces. Despite this, Al Shabab continues to be a destabilizing force, with its threat still looming over both countries.
In Kenya, the militant group has increasingly targeted counties like Wajir, Mandera, and Garissa—regions that border Somalia. Recent reports from The Wall Africa Journal have indicated a rise in attacks, including landmine explosions, in these areas. The persistent threat from Al Shabab highlights the urgent need for stronger regional cooperation, which the MoU between Ethiopia and Kenya seeks to address.
