To enhance regional stability, Ethiopia's National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) and Kenya's National Intelligence Service (NIS) have initiated a joint operation against the Shene militant group in border areas, as reported by the Ethiopian News Agency on Tuesday.
This operation comes after high-level security discussions led by Ethiopia's NISS Director General, Ambassador Redwan Hussein, and Kenya’s NIS Director-General, Noordin Mohamed Haji, with senior defense and police officials from both countries. The effort seeks to apply security agreements aimed at countering threats to Ethiopia's and Kenya's national interests.
The joint initiative is focused on combating terrorism, contraband trade, and illegal trafficking of people and arms, with the main goal of dismantling the Shene militant group's operations in border regions to improve regional stability. Combined security forces from both nations are actively engaging in operations in the group's established camps within their territories to diminish its impact.
According to a statement from Kenya’s National Police Service, the Shene group's cross-border activities have led to various crimes, including arms and mineral smuggling, human trafficking, and ethnic conflicts. The group's actions pose a significant threat to Kenya's national security, prompting comprehensive measures to restore peace and order, the report said.
So far, the collaborative efforts have resulted in significant personnel and resource losses for the militant group, as reported.
While the group has previously rejected peace talks, the NISS reportedly emphasized that an opportunity for peaceful resolution remains open. The service urged remaining members to abandon violence and embrace dialogue, reaffirming the commitment to continue the operation with intensified efforts until the threat is neutralized.