Chief of General Staff (Ethiopia)

The Chief of the General Staff is the professional head of the Ethiopian National Defense Force. He is responsible for the administration and the operational control of the Ethiopian military. The post was briefly vacant since the death of Seare Mekonen, who was killed in a failed coup.[1] After Mekonen, General Adem Mohammed, former Ethiopian Air Force deputy head & UNISFA deputy force commander,[2] EAF head,[3] and briefly chief of the National Intelligence and Security Service,[4] was appointed as new CGS. The post has however usually been held by Ground Forces (Army) officers.

Chief of the General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force
Incumbent General Adem Mohammed since 27 June 2019
Ministry of Defense
Reports to	Minister of Defence
Appointer	Prime Minister of Ethiopia

List of Chiefs

Ethiopian Empire (1941–1974)

No.		Chief of Staff of the Imperial Ethiopian Armed Force	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Defence branch	Ref
?		Buli, MulugetaMajor general Mulugeta Buli (1917–1960)	November 1956	1958	1–2 years	Army	[5][6]

• Lt. General Eyasu Mengesha (army)[6]
• Lt. General Haile Baykedagen (army)[6]
• Lt. General Assefa Ayane (air force)[6]
• Lt. General Wolde Selassie Bereka (army)[6]

Derg (1974–1987)

No.		Chief of Staff	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Defence branch	Ref
?		Andom, AmanLieutenant General Aman Andom (1924–1974)	12 September 1974	17 November 1974 †	66 days	Army	[7]
?		Negussie, MeridMajor General Merid Negussie (1924–1974)	1980	January 1981	0–1 years	Kebur Zabagna	[7]
?		Tedla, AddisLt. General Addis Tedla	?	?	?	Air force	[7]

People's Democratic Republic (1987–1991)

No.		Chief of Staff	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Defence branch	Ref
1		Negussie, MeridMajor General Merid Negussie (1934–1989)	22 February 1987	18 May 1989 †	2 years, 85 days	Kebur Zabagna	[7][8]
2		Tedla, AddisLieutenant general Addis Tedla	26 May 1989	28 May 1991	2 years, 2 days	Air force	[7][9][10]

Federal Democratic Republic (1991–present)

No.		Chief of Staff	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Ref
1		Gebretensae, TsadkanLieutenant general Tsadkan Gebretensae	28 May 1991	2001	9–10 years	[11][12]
2		Yunis, SamoraGeneral Samora Yunis (born c. 1949)	2001	7 June 2018	16–17 years	[11]
3		Mekonen, SeareGeneral Seare Mekonen (?–2019)	7 June 2018	22 June 2019 †	1 year, 15 days	[11][1]
4		Mohammed, AdemGeneral Adem Mohammed	27 June 2019	Incumbent	1 year, 49 days	[13]

References

Citations

1. "Ethiopia army chief shot dead in 'coup bid' attacks". BBC News. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
2. Ethiopia's Role and Foreign Policy in the Horn of Africa - jstor by B Mesfin - 2012
3. Africa Confidential, Vol 59 No 9 Abiy tests the military.
4. Africa Confidential, "Push-ups and Makeovers", Vol 59 No 21, 26 October 2018.
5. Shinn, David H.; Ofcansky, Thomas P. Historical Dictionary of Ethiopia (2nd ed.). Scarecrow Press. p. 295.
6. Ginbot 7 2010, p. 6.
7. Ginbot 7 2010, p. 9.
8. "Merid Negussie". meridnegussie.com. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
9. Battiata, Mary (26 May 1989). "Ethiopia Appoints New Generals, Puts Down Student Protest". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
10. Abebe, Andualem (26 May 1989). "Ethiopian Leader Names New Armed Forces Chiefs". AP News. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
11. Fantahun, Arefaynie (7 June 2018). "Seare Mekonnen Named Ethiopian Military's Chief of Staff". Ethiopia Observer. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
12. Giorgis, Andebrhan Welde (2014). Eritrea at a Crossroads: A Narrative of Triumph, Betrayal and Hope. Strategic Book Publishing & Rights Agency, LLC. p. 526. ISBN 978-1628573312. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
13. "Ethiopia PM names new army chief, Adem Mohammed". Africa News. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.

Bibliography

• Ginbot 7 (12 February 2010). "The Ethiopian Military Leadership Under Haile Selassie and Derge Regimes" (PDF). Ginbot 7 Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy. Retrieved 23 June 2019. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)