Ethiopian, Kenyan intelligence institutions set direction to strengthen operations against terrorism

Addis Ababa, August 21, 2024 (FBC) – Ethiopian and Kenyan intelligence agencies have set a direction to continue the operations they started against the leaders and militants of terrorist groups operating in the border area and in Kenya.

A delegation led by Kenya’s National Intelligence Services Director General Noordin Mohammed Haji is in Addis Ababa this week for a working visit.

When the Kenyan delegation arrived at Bole International Airport, it was received by the Director-General of Ethiopia’s National Intelligence & Security Service (NISS), Ambassador Redwan Hussain.

In a press release issued this afternoon, NISS stated that the intelligence institutions of the two countries had previously signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate on information exchange and other security and intelligence issues.

Based on their cooperation, the officials and experts of both institutions have been meeting frequently and evaluating the progress.

Accordingly, Kenya’s National Intelligence Service Director General Noordin M. Haji along with senior officials and experts of his institution came to Addis Ababa and held an in-depth discussion and evaluation on several common agendas.

It was mentioned that the two countries have shared security concerns and joint development agendas just like they share a border.

Both counterpart institutions advised on ways of thwarting the activities of the Shene terrorist group, which is currently carrying out various evil activities at the border areas and in Kenya.

The terrorist group’s activities of kidnapping innocent civilians, looting and destroying property, and disrupting people’s movement have been a problem not only in Ethiopia, but also in Kenya, according to NISS.

In that regard, the two intelligence institutions have decided to continue strengthening the information exchange and coordinated operation that they have started to thwart and stop terrorist activities.

They also outlined directions to take immediate actions to stop the terrorist group’s contraband, illegal arms trafficking, illegal mining and smuggling.

NISS noted that the Shene terrorist group operating in the border areas of the two countries and in Kenya recently kidnapped two Korean nationals and handed them over to al-Shabaab which demonstrates Shene’s direct links with the al-Shabaab terrorist group operating in Somalia.

It was also stated that they will continue to strengthen the information exchange and coordinated operations they are conducting to achieve lasting peace in the area and the region.

In this regard, the two intelligence counterpart institutions reaffirmed commitment to working together in the bid to find solution to end the conflict in Sudan peacefully and return Sudan to its previous peaceful activities.

It has been mentioned that they will continue to strengthen their work together to help bring lasting peace and stability in South Sudan, another country that shares its borders with Ethiopia and Kenya.

They also agreed to strengthen the cooperation they started together on cybersecurity and to work together to prevent and stop future cyber attacks.

It has been pointed out that the two intelligence institutions have agreed to work together in an effort to prevent and counter psychological warfare, which is becoming a current threat to countries.

Finally, the Kenyan delegation visited the corridor development works being carried out in Addis Ababa and the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum.

After the visit, Director-General Noordin said that he saw that Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia and the capital of the African Union, is as beautiful and attractive as its name.