Ethiopia and Rwanda Sign Defense Cooperation Agreement

Addis Ababa, March 13, 2025 (FMC) – Ethiopia and Rwanda have signed an agreement to enhance cooperation in various areas of defense.

The agreement was signed today at the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) headquarters in Addis Ababa by Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, Chief of the General Staff of the ENDF, and his Rwandan counterpart, Lieutenant General Mubarak Muganga.

Following the signing, both sides held a joint press conference, as shared on ENDF’s social media channels.

During the briefing, Major General Teshome Gemechu, Director General of External Relations and Military Cooperation at the ENDF, emphasized the long-standing military collaboration between Ethiopia and Rwanda.

He noted that the agreement aims to further strengthen their cooperation in the future.

He mentioned that the latest agreement covers areas such as military capacity-building training, exchange of expertise, counter-terrorism efforts, and other related defense matters.

Echoing Major General Teshome’s remarks, Brigadier General Patrick Karuretwa, Director General of Rwanda’s International Military Cooperation, reaffirmed the strong historical ties between the two countries.

He commended Ethiopia for its swift assistance during times of need and expressed Rwanda’s commitment to continuing to build its military relationship with Ethiopia across various domains.