Ethiopia Arrests Dozens of Suspected ISIS Militants in Nationwide Counterterrorism Sweep

 Ethiopian authorities have detained dozens of suspected Islamic State (IS) militants accused of orchestrating terror plots across the country, according to a report by state broadcaster Fana on Tuesday. The arrests were carried out during a coordinated operation by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), in collaboration with federal police and regional security forces.

The suspects are reportedly affiliated with the Somali branch of IS—commonly known as Daesh—which operates out of Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region. Arrests were made at multiple locations, including the capital Addis Ababa and the regions of Oromia and Amhara.

According to a statement released by NISS, the agency had been tracking the group's activities for some time, including efforts to infiltrate Ethiopian territory, establish sleeper cells, and coordinate attacks. The militants are believed to have undergone training in Puntland before being deployed into Ethiopia.

The detainees were allegedly in direct communication with the central IS network and were involved in logistical coordination, financial transactions, and operational planning. Some suspects also reportedly served as intelligence operatives and recruiters for the organization.

The Islamic State presence in the Horn of Africa remains a serious security concern, particularly in Somalia, where it operates in parallel—and often in conflict—with Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab. While Al-Shabaab maintains dominance in the region, Daesh has attempted to expand its footprint, leading to frequent clashes between the two groups over territory, ideology, and resources.

Earlier this week, Al-Shabaab forces reportedly seized the town of Tardo in Somalia’s central Hiiran region. In May, the group claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing outside a military base in Mogadishu, which killed at least ten people. That attack came just weeks after a failed assassination attempt targeting Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s convoy.

Despite intensified efforts by international actors—including 25 U.S. airstrikes targeting IS and Al-Shabaab militants since January under President Donald Trump’s administration—insurgent violence continues to destabilize the region.

Ethiopia's latest crackdown comes amid a backdrop of continued instability in its northern Tigray region. A devastating two-year civil war, which ended with a peace agreement in 2022, left over 100,000 people dead and millions displaced, according to the Peace Research Institute Oslo. However, tensions between federal forces and Tigrayan factions remain unresolved, particularly concerning disarmament and territorial disputes.