Addis Ababa, August 15, 2026 (FMC) — Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) Field Marshal Berhanu Jula has described the Special Operations Command as a strategic force giving Ethiopia a decisive edge in rapidly responding to emerging threats and preventing security risks before they escalate.
Field Marshal Berhanu made the remarks while addressing the command’s leadership at the conclusion of its 2025/26 fiscal year performance review, where he provided guidance on the current national security situation and the responsibilities of the armed forces.
He said the Special Operations Command has developed distinctive military capabilities that enable it to respond swiftly, anticipate threats and act decisively, making it one of the ENDF’s key strategic forces.
The Chief of Staff credited the command with playing a major role in reversing serious security challenges Ethiopia faced following the country’s political transition, describing its forces as a “battlefield game-changing ground drone.” He said the sacrifices made by its personnel in defending the country have earned national recognition and urged them to preserve and further strengthen their distinctive capabilities.
Field Marshal Berhanu stressed that the sacrifices of the ENDF extend beyond defending Ethiopia against external aggression. The military, he said, has a broader responsibility to safeguard national sovereignty, consolidate internal peace, uphold national unity and the rule of law, and create conditions for Ethiopia’s development to continue.
Turning to the country’s wider security environment, the Chief of Staff accused the Eritrean leadership of pursuing a longstanding strategy aimed at denying Ethiopia access to the sea and of forging alliances with forces hostile to Ethiopia’s national interests.
He described the illegal TPLF group as a treacherous force that compromised Ethiopia’s national interests during its 27 years in power, including by working to deprive the country of its strategic maritime interests. He further accused the group of turning its weapons against Ethiopia’s own military, characterizing this as a profound betrayal of the nation.
Despite repeated challenges and what he described as betrayal by the outlawed group, Ethiopia has remained resilient and continued its national trajectory, Field Marshal Berhanu said, attributing this resilience to the country’s patriotic citizens and strong national institutions.
He further accused what he described as destructive and extremist forces of operating under external strategic influence through an alliance referred to as “Tsimdo,” which he said seeks to weaken Ethiopia, destabilize the country and subject its people to further suffering.
The Chief of Staff said the divisive political force had historically sought to fracture relations among Ethiopia’s communities, including by portraying fellow Ethiopians as enemies of the people of Tigray.
That strategy, he said, has increasingly failed as Ethiopians, including people in Tigray, have come to recognize the destructive agenda of the illegal group.
Field Marshal Berhanu said the group’s current alignment with forces it previously regarded as adversaries, including OLA-Shene and extremist Fano elements, alongside its cooperation with the Eritrean leadership, demonstrates what he described as the anti-national character of its political project and its continued reliance on external forces.
He said the TPLF and other extremist groups have sought to exploit internal divisions and external alliances to weaken Ethiopia, but stressed that their ambitions to see a fragmented and weakened Ethiopia would not succeed.
The Chief of Staff called on Special Operations Command personnel to confront threats posed by forces seeking to undermine Ethiopia’s security and stability and to remain prepared to respond rapidly to threats from any direction.
He particularly underscored the importance of breaking the role of the outlawed TPLF and other extremist forces as proxies, arguing that dismantling their capacity would also undermine the strategic objectives of their external backers.
Field Marshal Berhanu said Ethiopia would continue advancing its development and prosperity through the determination of its people and the strength of its national institutions, asserting that the ambitions of historical adversaries and their domestic allies would not derail the country’s trajectory.
He further emphasized that the Special Operations Command has reached a high level of capability in equipment and human-resource development and must maintain its readiness to deliver rapid and effective responses to threats from any direction.