Ethiopia and Kenya renew defense cooperation after 62 years to strengthen regional security and prosperity

Addis Ababa, September 24, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia and Kenya have renewed their 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 gained independence.

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

The DCA establishes a structured framework for more efficient, effective, and timely collaboration on strategic tasks. It also focuses on enhancing interoperability, advancing joint training, and strengthening mechanisms for rapid intelligence sharing, reflecting the growing trust and deepening ties between the two nations.

Field Marshal Berhanu highlighted the long-standing friendship between Ethiopia and Kenya, noting that the agreement covers intelligence sharing, joint military exercises, training in the military industry, counter-terrorism, border security, and other areas of mutual interest.

He emphasized that these initiatives will not only strengthen bilateral relations but also contribute to peace, security, and prosperity across the wider region.

The ENDF Chief of Staff added that the renewed cooperation extends beyond operational matters, facilitating joint projects that support regional stability and shared security objectives, Lt. Col. Wubshet Chekol, ENDF Online Media Editor-in-Chief told Fana Media Corporation.

For his part, Lt. Gen. Kahariri expressed appreciation for the warm reception of his delegation and underscored that Ethiopia–Kenya relations are rooted in shared borders, history, cultural ties, and people-to-people connections. He described the DCA as a clear expression of African self-reliance, highlighting the importance of cooperation, ingenuity, and collective action in addressing contemporary security challenges.

Both officials affirmed that the agreement strengthens the capacity of their defense forces while contributing to broader regional stability, marking a historic milestone in Ethiopia–Kenya military relations.