Kenya and Ethiopia signed a new defense agreement to deepen military cooperation and increase regional security, in what is the latest chapter in the decades-long neighborly bond between the two countries.
The memorandum was signed on Thursday at the seat of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Defence in capital city Addis Ababa, where Kenya’s Chief of Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri met his Ethiopian counterpart Field Marshal Birhanu Jula.
The two nations agreed to increased cooperation in training, intelligence sharing, and responses to future security threats something both say is crucial as the region gets increasingly complex.
The ceremony, which was addressed by General Kahariri, said the agreement goes beyond defence, marking a shared vision of African solutions for African challenges.
“This alliance is more than a matter of military cooperation it’s about developing capacity, enhancing resilience, and finding African solutions through African solidarity,” he said. “Through collective action, we are seizing control of our shared future.”.
Field Marshal Jula also reemphasized the importance of the pact as a testament to the tried-and-tested association of the two countries, which do not share just a border, but diplomatic and defence partnerships of decades.
“History, geography, and shared challenges have always bound us together,” Jula said. “This peace accord is a continuation of this bond and a testament to our shared commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.”
The signing comes as Kenya and Ethiopia are dealing with a range of new security challenges, from border threats to shifting geopolitics in the Horn of Africa.
Military officials say the deal opens the way for faster response times, better coordination, and more coordinated efforts in the defense of national and regional interests.
