Kenya, Ethiopia launch coordinated military offensive against alleged OLA hideouts
The governments of Ethiopia and Kenya have launched a coordinated military offensive they say is targeting hideouts of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) along their shared border
The governments of Ethiopia and Kenya have launched a coordinated military offensive they say is targeting hideouts of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) along their shared border.
The operation was announced following a visit to Nairobi by Ethiopian intelligence chief Redwan Hussein (Amb.) on February 3, 2025.
The operation aims to dismantle the group’s activities, which include terrorism, contraband trade, and the trafficking of people and arms, according to the Ethiopian National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).
The National Police Service of Kenya stated it has initiated ‘Operation Ondoa Jangili’ in Marsabit and Isiolo counties, where it says it is targeting hideouts allegedly used by the OLA to facilitate cross-border criminal activities, including trafficking illegal arms and narcotics, human smuggling, dealing in contraband goods, and illegal mining.
A press release from the Service accused the OLA of exploiting cultural ties between the Borana of Kenya and the Oromo of Ethiopia to infiltrate and hide among local populations, committing atrocities such as intimidation, property seizures, and sexual assault against women and girls.
“The militia group has taken advantage of close family and cultural ties between both nations to infiltrate and hide among the populations in Marsabit and Isiolo counties,” reads the statement.
Meanwhile, the offensive has been met with rejection and sharp criticism by the OLA (referred to as ‘Shene’ by the Ethiopian government).
In a statement released this week, the group claims that senior Ethiopian military officers are complicit in illicit activities across the border. It has denied any involvement in criminal activities in Kenya and reaffirmed its commitment to respecting Kenya’s sovereignty.
OLA stated that over 95 percent of its Southern Command forces operate within southern Oromia, with fewer than five percent stationed near the Kenyan border.
In its statement, OLA also accused high-ranking members of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and intelligence services of “facilitating transnational criminal networks engaged in drug trafficking, human trafficking, and precious metal smuggling”.
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The group urged Kenyan authorities to exercise caution, warning against being misled by Ethiopian officials who, it claimed, are attempting to divert attention from their own complicity in organized crime.
“The Ethiopian regime, in pursuit of a cheap public relations campaign against the OLA, may attempt to fabricate narratives that deflect scrutiny from the real perpetrators-who reside within the Ethiopian regime itself,” reads OLA’s statement.
The group emphasized its willingness to cooperate with Kenyan authorities to eliminate criminal elements along the shared border but cautioned Kenya against being drawn into Ethiopia’s internal conflicts.
“The Ethiopian regime has a well-documented recent history of dragging neighboring countries into its internal conflicts,” reads the press release.
As the joint operation unfolds, the Kenyan police force has appealed to the communities living near border areas to remain calm.
“The local communities in the aforementioned operation areas should remain calm, carry on with their daily activities without fear, and cooperate with the National Police Service,” reads the Service’s statement.
The Ethiopian government designated OLA as a terrorist organization by way of the country’s anti-terrorism laws in May 2021 following escalating tensions and violent clashes involving the group.
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