Ethiopia's top military official, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, announced that the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) is actively collaborating with neighboring nations to ensure peace and stability across the East African region.
The Chief of Staff made the remarks during a review of the Ministry of Defense's 10-month performance report by the House of Peoples' Representatives' Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and Peace Affairs.
During the committee's rigorous assessment, questions arose concerning the Defense Force's capabilities in fulfilling its regional mandate and the current state of its human resource organization.
Responding to inquiries, Field Marshal Birhanu underscored the ENDF's substantial efforts in tackling instability within the East African bloc. He highlighted that Ethiopia's internal peace-building initiatives have successfully reintegrated numerous armed groups peacefully into society. However, he cautioned that certain elements continue to pursue agendas influenced by external forces, a challenge the Defense Force is actively working to counter.
Addressing questions regarding the establishment of the Ethiopian Navy, Field Marshal Birhanu confirmed that all necessary preconditions, including human resources and equipment, have been met for Ethiopia to establish its own naval force.
He further emphasized the military's ongoing commitment to strengthening its peacekeeping capacity, particularly through the adoption of advanced technology. The Chief of Staff specifically cited the integration of drone technology as a key example of this modernization.
Adding to the discussion, Minister of Defense Aisha Mohammed (Engineer) highlighted the Defense Force's extensive involvement in major national development projects, in addition to its primary peacekeeping duties. The Minister presented examples to the parliament including significant contributions to road construction, institutional building, and the ambitious Green Legacy initiative.