Ethiopia scales down military in states

The Ethiopian National Defence conducting exercises in September 2020 Credit: STR/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

NAIROBI, Kenya - Ethiopia has started the process of reducing the presence of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) in various parts of the country, a strategy meant to increase its presence in its borders amid rising security challenges within the Horn of Africa.

For decades, the country has invested in the deployment of the military to handle local security challenges, including the recent interference in the Tigray region which sparked sharp differences with regional authorities, leading to deadly clashes.

Typically, there are ENDF soldiers in all states, almost assuming the role of the police, who are mandated to take care of law and order. There are also thousands of local militias, thus affecting the chain of command in terms of execution.

Lieutenant General Alemshet Degife, Military Advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force and Chief of the Fire Command, announced plans to reduce the military’s involvement in policing and transfer these responsibilities to regional police forces and local militias.

Speaking in a two-part interview with ENDF Media, he emphasized, “It is not sustainable for the national defense force to be deployed in every village, woreda, kebele, and city.”

General Alemshet reflected on the challenges posed by prolonged military deployments over the past five to six years, particularly in the Tigray, Oromia, and Amhara regions. He outlined a strategy to withdraw troops to their camps and prioritize training, a move geared towards resolving internal conflicts.

“We are planning to return the military to its camp and focus on training. In this regard, we believe we will succeed, and our forces will get the necessary rest.”

Ethiopia is facing security challenges, with the fallout with Egypt also being on the radar. The two countries have failed to agree on filling the Grand Renaissance Dam along the Blue Nile, with Egypt saying Ethiopia's actions risk the reduction of water supplies downstream.

Also, Ethiopia had sharp differences with Somalia after signing an illegal agreement over access to the Red Sea with Somaliland. However, Turkey has since mediated the conflict between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu leading to the resumption of talks.

GAROWE ONLINE