Despite sharing the longest border with Somalia than any other country, Ethiopia has managed to keep Al-Shabaab militants at bay.
Contrary to this, Kenya, which like Ethiopia has deployed troops to Somalia, has often faced Al-Shabaab aggression both within and outside the country.
Ethiopian ambassador to Kenya Meles Alem says Addis Ababa has invested in a local arrangement similar to that of Kenya's 'Nyumba Kumi' where locals take part in peacekeeping process.
“Ours is a success story from the members of the public. Our vibrant Nyumba Kumi model has played a key role in the detection and prevention of these attacks,” Alem said.
According to the envoy, Ethiopian has empowered locals to take part in security, with strangers, especially along the common border, often reported to authorities.
“Security should not be the preserve of security agencies. It should be an all-collective effort aimed at weeding out terror elements.”
“An Ethiopian knows not only who is living next door but also who else is living in the neighbourhood. This awareness isn’t security-oriented. Rather, it is the product of a social fabric that is based on good neighbourliness,” he said.
Last week, Al-Shabaab militants killed 11 people in Wajir, the first attack targeting passenger bus since 2014.
Under the Amisom peacekeeping mission, Ethiopia has between 9,000 and 15,000 troops manning sector 3, which comprises Bay, Bakool and Gedo. Kenya, on the other hand, has about 2,400 troops manning sector 2.
Over the past five years, 46 terrorist incidents have been reported in Ethiopia, in which 361 people have been killed and 160 injured. In the same period between 2013 and 2017, Kenya has suffered 373 terror attacks, leaving 929 people dead, 1,149 injured and 666 taken hostage.
Recently, President Uhuru Kenyatta said Kenyan troops in the AMISOM forces will continue staying in Somalia until Al-Shabaab militants are crushed.