Details of New KDF Defence Deal with Ethiopia Revealed

Kenya and Ethiopia have signed a new Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA), 60 years after the first defence pact was signed in 1963, the year Kenya gained independence.
The agreement was signed on September 24 in Addis Ababa at the Ethiopian National Defence Headquarters following high-level talks between Chief of General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force Birhanu Jula and Chief of Kenya’s Defence Forces Charles Muriu Kahariri.
“Ethiopia and Kenya enjoy a longstanding fraternal relationship, from diplomatic to political relations, people-to-people ties, and economic cooperation,” A statement from Ethiopia’s ambassador to Kenya General Bacha Debele Buta said.
The deal sets the stage for stronger cooperation in defence matters, including joint military training, border protection, counter-terrorism and defence industry development.
Further, the pact lays out a structured framework to improve operational efficiency and coordination between the two forces.
Describing the deal as a strategic investment into the future of Africa’s security, General Kahariri noted that African nations must increasingly rely on their own capabilities and cooperation.
“This is a clear expression of African self-reliance, mastering our collective fate through cooperation, ingenuity, and shared action,” Kahariri stated.
Meanwhile, Field Marshal Juja said Ethiopia remained fully committed to the partnership as he described the agreement as a continuation of the historic relationship between Kenya and Ethiopia.
Another key area of cooperation under theagreement is intelligence sharing, with both countries seeing this as a crucial factor in combating extremism by responding quickly to emerging threats.
According to the annual Global Firepower review, Ethiopia is ranked 52nd of 145 in terms of their military strength.
With a personnel count of 162,000 soldiers, Ethiopia is also considered to have one of the strongest militaries in Africa. Part of their military strength is attributed to theirformidable special forces units, such as the Agazi Commandos and the Republican Guard, known for their role in internal and regional conflicts.
These factors make the collaboration crucial for Kenya, whose borders were recently flagged as hotspots for extremist activity by the United Kingdom.