HENOK MERHATSIDK 1.pdf - Addis Ababa University

CHAPTER FOUR
CHALLENGES IN ETHIO-KENYAN SECURITY COOPERATION
Introduction
This chapter deals with three sub sections that are devoted for assessing threat from stateless
Somalia, Kenyan domestic security challenges and Ethiopian domestic security challenges.
Under threat from stateless Somalia the study will see those core issues that are affecting the
security of Ethiopia and Kenya; terrorist threat in Ethiopia, terrorist threat in Kenya and
refugee influx from Somalia to Kenya. Kenyan domestic security factors will see those
factors intimately related to Ethio- Kenyan relations especially those related with border
areas namely, the issue of the influx of refugees from Ethiopia and the presence of Ethiopian
insurgent groups in Northern Kenya. The Ethiopian domestic security factors will see those
issues that are responsible for insecurity in Ethiopian territory and that have claimed the
support of Kenyan government. In this connection: The issue of Ogaden, contraband trade
and cattle rustling will be cited as challenges.
4.1. Threat from Stateless Somalia
Many authors consider the Horn of Africa sub region as sensitive area in which terrorism and
counter terrorism interactions are taking place. It is also a breeding ground and hiding place
for terrorists especially of Jihadist type. Among the countries that are located in the Horn of
Africa, Somalia is considered as terrorist prone country. Its long coastal area, the absence of
central government for 20 years, its complete Muslim population have contributed for
Somalia’s number one position in hosting global terrorist group, Al- Qaeda and the more
radical regional group Al -Shaabab, which is now conducting terrorist activities in Somalia
and its neighbor, Kenya, even going further to Kampala, Uganda, Besides, Al-Itihad is
known for its numerous terrorist activities in Ethiopian territory made Somali save haven for
its destructive objectives(MQller, 2004: 20-22).
The independence of Somali state in 1960 has not brought good news for Ethiopia and
Kenya, which have sizable Somali population; the two neighboring countries suffer a lot,
Shifta war in Northern Frontier District (NFD) in Kenya and the Western Somali Liberation
Front in the Ogden region of Ethiopia has been testing the governments of the two countries.
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