ETHIOPIA - Authorities are warning of elevated terrorism threat in Addis Ababa

Authorities in Ethiopia yesterday  warned of an elevated terrorism threat in the capital, Addis Ababa.

Security measures in the city were increased in response, with concentrations of security forces visible near potential targets, including international hotels and official venues, such as the headquarters of the African Union (AU).

Although the government has stated that it has no intelligence indicating that the country is in danger of an imminent terrorist incursion, authorities have raised concerns that an al-Shabaab-led attack remains possible. There have been persistent concerns that al-Shabaab, which led the Westgate siege in Nairobi, Kenya in September in response to Kenya's involvement in the conflict in Somalia, may coordinate a similar attack in Ethiopia in response to its contributions in Somalia.

Addis Ababa in particular has been identified as a potential target, given the city's prominence as the capital and the fact that the city hosts the AU headquarters. Al-Shabaab has demonstrated that it possesses both the intent and operational capacity to target areas outside of its traditional strongholds in Somalia, threatening to conduct reprisal attacks within Ethiopia.

At least four people were killed on 4 November in a bomb blast on a minibus taxi travelling in the north western town of Segno Gebeya. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack which occurred less than a day after the country was placed on a heightened terrorism alert.

While a terrorist attack always remains difficult to predict, the heightened security measures illustrate that security forces in Ethiopia take all security threats seriously. The current heightened security presence is likely to remain in place in the near-term.

Due to the ongoing threat of terrorism, all travellers in Ethiopia are advised to tighten their security security measures and increase their security awareness.

RPS Partnership will be conducting personal security awareness training at the end of the month in Ethiopia. If you are interested please contact us at [email protected]

Thanks to Red 24

Photo: panaramio