Ethiopia and Kenya reach deal on peace and security to boost ties

NAIROBI, Kenya - Ethiopia, and Kenya on Wednesday signed a landmark military cooperation deal, a move that comes amid political instability in the Horn of Africa which has lasted for a couple of months.

Ethiopia is currently embroiled in a crisis in the Tigray region while Somalia and Kenya are battling with Al-Shabaab militants who have continued to run riot in both nations. There have been serious undertakings to permanently defeat the militants.

Ethiopia's Chief of Staff Field Marshal Birhanu Jula held discussions with his Kenya Defense Forces [KDF] counterpart General Robert Kibochi at Defense Headquarters in Nairobi where the agreement was reached.

The two states agreed to be on frontline in strengthening East Africa Standby Force [EASF] which is critical on matters emergency. When Al-Shabaab attacked US Naval Base in Manda Bay, the EASF played a significant role in giving reinforcement..

The force is a regional organisation whose mandate is to enhance peace and security in the volatile wider Eastern Africa region. At Manda Airfield, the force immediately gave back up to KDF soldiers and those from US Africa Command.

At home, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula and the ENDF are battling against Tigray Defense Forces, an outfit allied to Tigray People's Liberation Front. The war has lasted for over 17 months leading to the death of thousands of people and the displacement of millions of others.

GAROWE ONLINE