Ethiopia, Kenya Sign Defence Cooperation Agreement After Six Decades

Addis Ababa, September 24, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia and Kenya have signed a renewed Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA), marking the second such pact between the two nations in 62 years, following the first agreement concluded on December 12, 1963, the year Kenya attained independence.

The agreement was signed in Addis Ababa today by Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), and Lieutenant General Charles Muriu Kahariri, Chief of Defence Staff of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), after holding bilateral talks at the General Directorate of ENDF.

Unlike other treaties, the DCA serves as a framework that enables countries to work together on strategic tasks. It comes at a time of deepening trust and steadily growing relations between Ethiopia and Kenya.

Field Marshal Berhanu underlined that the longstanding friendship between the two nations, anchored in shared history, continues to shape their defense cooperation.

He noted that the new agreement encompasses intelligence sharing, joint military exercises, training in the military industry, counter-terrorism, border security, and other related areas.

These initiatives, he said, will not only strengthen bilateral ties but also contribute to regional peace and security.

ENDF Online Media Editor-in-Chief Lieutenant Colonel Wubshet Chekol further explained that the DCA extends beyond bilateral matters, enabling joint projects with positive implications for the wider Horn of Africa.

Lt. Gen. Kahariri, in turn, expressed appreciation for the warm welcome extended to his delegation.

He emphasized that Ethiopia–Kenya relations are founded not only on history, but also on cultural ties, people-to-people connections, and geographic proximity.

He affirmed that the agreement offers substantial benefits for regional peace and stability, reiterating Kenya’s commitment to close cooperation with Ethiopia in advancing common defense and security objectives.