Ethiopia introduces its first Field Marshal rank amid changes to insignia

ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 08, 2022 - Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) announced new changes to its military ranks and insignia amid a rank promotion ceremony held today where the army chief General Birhanu Jula was awarded Ethiopia's first Field Marshal rank in light of his extraordinary acts in the face of a national crisis.

LEFT: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, President Sahle-Work Zewde and Field Marshal Birhanu Jula

The rank promotion was granted to those who led battles and brought results. In addition to the Field Marshal, Lt. General Bacha Debele, Lt. General Abebaw Tadesse, Lt. General Hassen Ibrahim and Lt. General Getachew Gudina were promoted to General, 14 to Lieutenant General, 24 to Major General and 58 were promoted to Brigadier Generals.

"You were awarded the ranks because of the courage you showed on the battle field. Sacrifices made for Ethiopia and for the people requires recognition which is beyond words. This promotion is a recognition to you and a lesson for the rest", said Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in a statement released on his social media page.

The promotion proposal was made by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed while the award was given by President Sahle-Work Zewde.

These promotions, moreover, were made at a time the ENDF made changes to its military ranks and insignia.

LEFT: Brigadier General, Major General, Lt. General and General

It was said the changes were made in order to ensure that the ranks and the insignia reflect the true character of the ENDF and its national identity.

Accordingly, the Lion and the traditional Shield were used as the official insignia of the ENDF.

The traditional shield was in use during Emperor Haileselassie I and the succeeding DERG regime. However, the DERG replaced the Throne insignia, which was used during the Emperor's time, with the Lion. According to the ENDF statement, the Shield and the Lion are two historical emblems of the army.

Indigenous line officer rank

When the EPRDF came to power in 1991, it completely changed the ranks and insignia used during the DERG. The current army has a stance that military ranks and insignia should not change as governments change.

The statement from the ENDF read that the it chose to back to the DERG era insignia because at that time the army was formed based on national identity. Therefore, it found the need to continue the national and historical identity of the army irrespective of changes in government.

Comments

Thousands Attend Funeral For Four Muslims Killed By Police In Addis Ababa

ADDIS ABABA – Thousands of Muslims gathered today for the funeral of Anwar Surur, Zubair Mudasir, Ibrahim Danbal and Jemil Redwan killed by police in Addis Ababa following Juma'a Friday Prayers at the Grand Anwar Mosque. Three of the four Zubair, Anwar and Ibrahim were killed yesterday after the Juma'a prayers were completed at the Grand Anwar Mosque while Jemil Redwan, was among those who were seriously injured in last week’s crackdown and has since been receiving medical treatment before he succumbed to his injuries. Their bodies were laid at Addis Ababa Kolfe Muslim Cemetary. And from yesterday's shooting Mukerem Asrar, Yonatan Mulugeta and Tadele Wabada are said to be in a critical condition at AaBET hospital, Addis Ababa. Reports also indicate that Yonatan and Tadele were shot while heading to work. Siraj Mohammed and Abubaker Elias were killed by police last week, May 26, when Muslims protested the demolition Mosques in Sha

Ethiopia's Chief of the Electoral Board Resigns Amid Row with TPLF

Addis Ababa – Chief of the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), Birtukan Midekssa, announced on her social media page that she has resigned from her post as Chairwoman of the NEBE effective August 7, 2023. "I need to have a long term rest in order to maintain my health", she wrote on her facebook page. Birtukan wrote that two weeks ago she had informed the office of the Speaker of the House of People’s Representatives (HoPR) her decision to resign "voluntarily". In the coming month as she prepares for her departure, she said she will be responsible for completing unfinished tasks and making administrative transitions. A former judge and a veteran opposition party leader, she was appointed as Chairperson of the Board when the national parliament approved her nomination by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in November 2018. “I had a dream of transforming our institution into a reliable and independent institution capable of co

State of Emergency declared in Ethiopia's Amhara region

August 04, 2023, ADDIS ABABA – Today, Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers declared a State of Emergency in Amhara Regional State following a slowly escalating military confrontation between Fano militia and regional security forces as well as Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF). This decision comes after the Amhara Regional State President, Dr. Yilikal Kefale, called on the federal government to intervene and take measures against the Fano armed group. “It is essential to take emergency actions to maintain public safety and security and to enforce law and order", read the statement from the Council of Ministers. The Council stated that the government has been making repeated calls for peace so that all armed groups follow the path of the law and peace. However, the statement read, the “political, social and economic activities of the region is heavily hampered because of the attacks being carried out by armed extremist groups.” Yesterday, the President of Amhara Regional State,

Ethiopian Citizen

Search This Blog