This archive report was first published on 5 November 2021.
Kenya is closely monitoring the escalating conflict in Ethiopia, which has the potential to spill over into the country and exacerbate the already volatile security situation in the northern frontier counties.
With over two million civilians displaced and thousands fleeing to neighboring Sudan, experts warn that a humanitarian crisis of unimaginable magnitude could be on the horizon, given Ethiopia's population of more than 100 million people.
According to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, more than 3,000 civilians have been fleeing the Tigray region into eastern Sudan daily, with the influx described as unseen over the last two decades.
Kenya's concerns are further compounded by the fact that Ethiopia is one of its key trading partners, and an escalation of the conflict would disrupt the transportation of goods along the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia (Lapsset) Corridor.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has appealed to the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) fighters to choose dialogue and end the suffering of their people, while the United Nations, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the African Union have also called for de-escalation of the violence.
As the situation in Ethiopia continues to deteriorate, Kenya is urging the warring factions to exercise restraint and work towards a peaceful resolution, with the country's officials warning that the impact of the conflict would be too expensive for Kenya if it is not resolved soon.
