Ethiopia Military Introduces Rank Of Field Marshal

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

Ethiopia has introduced into its Military the rank of Field Marshal for the first time.

The Ethiopian National Defence Force is the military force of Ethiopia with a total of 162,000 active personnel operating on a budget size worth U$520 million.

As of Saturday January 8th, Abiy Ahmed Ali the Prime Minister of Ethiopia and commander in chief of the Ethiopian armed Forces presided over a ranks promotion ceremony in Addis Ababa capital.

Army chief of staff General Berhanu Jula has been promoted to the rank of Field Marshal and becomes the first military officer in Ethiopia to attain the rank.

“PM Abiy Ahmed Ali presided over the ENDF rank promotion ceremony. Ethiopia has today introduced the title of Field Marshal General and awarded the rank to Gen. Berhanu Jula, in light of his extraordinary acts in the face of a national crisis,” twitted the Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

“Today President Sahle-Work has awarded 4 full Generals including General Abebaw Tadesse, who was victim of forced retirement during TPLF era. 14 Major Generals are also upgraded to Lieutenant General rank.”

“In addition, 24 Brigadier Generals are have also become Major Generals, while 56 Colonels are upgraded to Brigadier General rank,” according to the state broadcaster ETV midday report.

According to the Prime Minister the ranks are awarded in appreciation of their accomplishment on the ongoing war with the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), which began the war by attacking the military base of Ethiopia in Tigray region on November 3, 2020.

Reports suggest that the November 3, 2020 attack of TPLF which is admitted by their own officers was aimed in overtaking the heavy artilleries of Ethiopian Army and advance to the capture Addis Ababa and overthrow the democratically elected Government of Ethiopia led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.