Ethiopia and Kenya have formally agreed to coordinate security operations

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24 November, 2007

Kenya Cooperates to Crush Rebels

Last week, Ethiopia and Kenya have formally agreed to coordinate security operations against Oromo National Liberation Front (ONLF) rebels operating along the Ethiopia-Kenya border. Both countries have been informally cooperating for several months.

The Kenyans see the ONLF as a potential troublemaker among Kenyan border tribes, and Kenya already has enough trouble along its Somalia frontier. Essentially, Kenya will attempt to locate and eliminate any bases or support facilities the ONLF has in Kenyan territory.

Most likely the ONLF fighters have weapons caches and rest areas, and not a sophisticated support base structure. This public agreement is a political victory for the Ethiopians. Kenyans in the border area have, for some time, complained about "spill-over" trouble from Ethiopia. If the locals provide good tips, the Kenyan police will find the ONLF's hideouts.