Ethiopia's National Intelligence and Security Service arrested 138 suspected terrorists in a coordinated operation that began April 17, targeting individuals allegedly planning to disrupt the upcoming June national election.
The National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) announced the arrests in a press statement, saying the suspects were collaborating with terrorist and extremist groups to undermine peace and security.
"Some 138 suspects, who were planning to disrupt peace and security of the country as well as the upcoming national election, have been apprehended," NISS said in the statement.
The operation involved federal and regional security forces working together to apprehend individuals across multiple locations in Ethiopia. The suspects were allegedly tasked with instigating terror and unrest in Addis Ababa and other major urban towns.
According to NISS, the arrested individuals were engaged in organizing covert cells for armed groups, gathering intelligence, and participating in planned attacks and abductions. Investigations revealed they were mobilizing logistics including funds, provisions, military uniforms, radio communication equipment, mobile handsets, SIM cards, firearms, and ammunition for extremist activities.
The suspects were also allegedly deployed to obstruct electoral activities in selected cities and districts and to incite ethnic and religious conflicts ahead of the June vote.
"Intelligence reports have confirmed that some of the suspects had established links with international terrorist organizations such as Al-Shabaab and ISIS, and received training in Somalia," the NISS statement said.
The arrested individuals were reportedly active in various parts of Ethiopia, recruiting members and facilitating conditions for terrorist acts. Some were involved in illegal arms trafficking intended to supply weaponry to extremist groups, while others engaged in human trafficking and contraband trade aimed at economic sabotage.
During the arrests, security forces seized weapons, explosives, grenades, and ammunition destined for extremist groups, along with foreign currencies and contraband items. The operation targeted individuals involved in creating artificial shortages of essential consumer goods.
The Ethiopian National Defense Force, Ethiopian Federal Police, and regional security agencies participated in what NISS described as a seamless integration of security forces to carry out the arrests.
"The NISS stated that it remains vigilant, conducting further surveillance and investigation to dismantle hidden networks of destructive forces," according to the statement.
The intelligence service emphasized that it has completed preparations to ensure the national election proceeds peacefully. NISS called on the public to report suspicious activities and support security institutions.
"It has finalized all necessary preparations to ensure that the upcoming national election proceeds peacefully," NISS said.
The operation also targeted networks involved in arms trafficking and human trafficking operations designed to exacerbate security challenges and undermine economic stability through artificial shortages of consumer goods.
The mass arrests come just two months before Ethiopia's scheduled June 2026 national election, indicating heightened security concerns as the country prepares for voting. The scale of the operation suggests significant intelligence work to identify networks allegedly planning coordinated disruption. Previous Ethiopian elections have been marked by security incidents and tensions between government forces and opposition groups. The timing and scope of these arrests reflects the government's stated priority of ensuring electoral security amid ongoing regional instability.
