The Nation (Nairobi)
June 6, 2001
Posted to the web June 5, 2001

Said Wabera

Eleven Ethiopian army officers have defected to Kenya, it was revealed yesterday.

They fled following the assassination of the country's head of national security in Addis Ababa over the weekend.

The 11 officers, whose ranks are yet to be established, defected yesterday and are being held by the Kenya Military Intelligence Corps for debriefing at Oda Camp, in Moyale.

It was not immediately known what had provoked the defection but increasing discontent among officers has been cited.

It is understood the 11 are seeking political asylum.

Intelligence and other sources in Moyale confirmed the presence of the officers and added that plans were under way to whisk them from the Ethiopian border - about nine kilometres from Oda Camp - to Nairobi today.

The head of Ethiopia's security forces was killed last Saturday by an army major in what is believed to be a looming revolt by the country's armed forces.

Ethiopian authorities last month arrested hundreds of Opposition members and students after riots in which 41 people died.

For more than a week riots had rocked the capital Addis Ababa, following clashes between youths and police, with the authorities blaming the unrest on "anti-peace elements."

At least 31 people were killed and over 200 injured.

Members of the Ethiopian Democratic Party said they did not know why scores of their followers had been arrested, but political analysts said they were suspected of inciting violence.

Thousands of Ethiopians and Eritreans died during a two year border war which ended in an uneasy peace early this year.

A United Nations peace-keeping force of 4,500 soldiers headed by Brigadier General Christopher arap Kuto has since been set up to monitor a buffer zone between the two countries.