Addis Ababa, September 28, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers has advanced a draft amendment to the Ethiopian National Defence Force Proclamation to update the legal framework governing the institution’s discharge of its national missions in line with the country’s constitutional order.
The draft amendment was considered during the Council’s 59th regular meeting held today, as the government undertakes legislative adjustments following the 2026 national election and the beginning of a new five-year term.
The proposed amendment seeks to revise the Ethiopian National Defence Force Proclamation No. 1286/2015, which the Council said needs to be updated to enable the Defence Force to carry out the national missions entrusted to it in accordance with the law.
According to the Office of the Prime Minister, this bill is grounded in Article 87 of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, which provides the constitutional framework for the national defence institution.
Following extensive deliberation and the incorporation of inputs, the Council unanimously decided to submit the draft amendment to the House of Peoples’ Representatives for further consideration.
The proposed legal reform forms part of broader legislative adjustments accompanying Ethiopia’s new five-year federal governance cycle, with the Council reviewing institutional and legal frameworks to support the effective discharge of national responsibilities.