November 29, 2024
Kenya and Ethiopia to sign memorandum of understanding for defense cooperation
Borkena
Toronto – Defense Chief of Staff of Ethiopia, Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, and his Kenyan counterpart Charles Muriu Kahariri this week met in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. The Kenyan Defense Chief was appointed to the position in May this year after
General Francis Ogolla was killed in Helicopter accident in April.
From the report, Ethiopia initiated Kenya’s Defense Chief visit to Ethiopia.
Ethiopia’s defense chief has reportedly unveiled that the two countries have reached an agreement and finalized preparations to cooperate on security and defense issues including jointly fighting Al Shabaab Forces, according to disclosure from the Defense Force.
“The two countries are linked in development and preparation to sign a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in intelligence and security including fighting Al-Shabab together,” Ethiopia’s defense Chief is quoted as saying.
Kenya’s Defense Chief has reportedly remarked that “Ethiopia and Kenya are crucial for the security of the region,” and confirmed that an agreement has been reached to strengthen military relations between the two countries.
The two countries have been part of the peace keeping mission in Somalia for many years now. Kenya has been facing security challenges in connection with Somalia. The terrorist group has attacked a shopping mall in Nairobi in 2019.
The pursuit of strengthening relations between the two countries seems to be a response to a tripartite alliance between Hassan Sheikh Mohammed’s Somalia, Eritrea and Egypt which was signed in Asmara in October 2024.
Somalia and Egypt signed a separate defense pact in August 2024 after Turkey initiated mediation with Ethiopia failed. Somalia accuses Ethiopia of “violating its sovereignty” by signing memorandum of understanding with Somaliland – which broke away from Somalia in 1991.
Ethiopia has been expressing concern that fire arms including heavy weaponry Egypt shipped to Somalia in September this year might fall in the hands of Al-Shabab.
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