The Chief of General Staff () Abbreviated (CGS Ethiopia) is the professional head of the

Ethiopian National Defense Force The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) () is the combined military force of Ethiopia. ENDF is consisted of 10 command forces which is controlled by the Chief of General Staff. Commanders of the Military Supreme Commander – Taye At ...

. The CDF also oversees all branches of the military Army, Air Force, and Navy. The CGF is typically linked to national defense and military strategy. The chief is responsible for the administration and the operational control of the Ethiopian military. The current Chief of General Staff is

Field marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army (in countries without the rank of Generalissimo), and as such, few persons a ...

Birhanu Jula Birhanu Jula Gelalcha (, born 1965) is an Ethiopian military officer who is the current Chief of General Staff (Ethiopia), Chief of General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force since 4 November 2020. He served as the Force Commander of ...

who was appointed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on 4 November 2020 succeeding General

Adem Mohammed Adem Mohammed (Amharic: አደም ሞሃመድ) is an Ethiopian military general and politician who is serving as an ambassador of Ethiopia to Turkey since 2021. He was the director of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) from 2 ...

. and the current deputy Chief of the General Staff is General Abebaw Tadese who was appointed by Prime Minister succeeding Field Marshal Birhanu Jula

General Requirement

Ethiopia Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Ken ...

puts this requirement for the position. 1.Military Rank and Experience: The individual must be a senior officer, usually holding the rank of Major General,

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...

and

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

before being considered for the position. They should have served in various high-ranking military positions and demonstrated effective leadership and strategic capabilities. 2.Training and Education: A graduate of a military academy or officer training school is typically required. For the ENDF, this would most likely involve training at the Ethiopian Military Academy or similar institutions. Advanced military education, such as courses at top military institutions (e.g., Ethiopian National Defense College or international military academies), would also be beneficial. 3.Proven Leadership and Service Record: A strong record of leadership and performance in combat or military operations. This includes experience in various military branches, such as

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

artillery Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...

, or

intelligence Intelligence has been defined in many ways: the capacity for abstraction, logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning, emotional knowledge, reasoning, planning, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. It can be described as t ...

. Serving in significant roles during military operations and demonstrating success in managing and executing defense strategies. 4.Political and Administrative Understanding: The Chief of the General Staff is not only a military leader but also often plays a significant role in national security and policy decisions. Understanding the political environment and having strong relationships with political leaders is important. 5.Physical Fitness and Health: Military leaders are expected to maintain high physical fitness levels, so meeting the physical standards for military service would be necessary. 6.Trust and Loyalty: As the head of the ENDF, the Chief of the General Staff must have the trust of the government, the

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

, and other senior officials. Political alignment and loyalty to the ruling government can play a role in appointments to such a prestigious and powerful position. 7.Leadership in National Defense Strategy: The individual must be capable of shaping the country’s defense strategy, ensuring the country’s military is prepared for any national security threats, and leading the military in defense of the nation’s interests.

Time Span

The term of a CGS is not fixed but generally lasts several years. In

, the term can be influenced by political decisions, changes in government, and performance within the military. The length of the term can vary, but on average, a CGS might serve between 5 to 7 years before a change occurs, either due to retirement, reshuffling, or other political reasons.

Appointment

Prime Minister of Ethiopia The prime minister of Ethiopia is the head of government and chief executive of Ethiopia. Ethiopia is a parliamentary republic with a prime minister as head of the government and the commander-in-chief of the Ethiopian Armed Forces. The pri ...

typically appoints the Chief of the Defense Force and Deputy Chief of the Defense Force, often after consulting with other high-ranking military and Government officials. The appointment may also involve review and recommendations by senior military leadership.

List of chiefs

Ethiopian Empire (1941–1974)

, - style="text-align:center;" , ? , ,

Eyasu Mengesha , , , , Imperial Army , , - style="text-align:center;" , ? , , Lieutenant General
Haile Baykedagen , , , , Imperial Army , , - style="text-align:center;" , ? , , Lieutenant General
Assefa Ayane , , , , Imperial Air Force , , - style="text-align:center;" , ? , , Lieutenant General
Wolde Selassie Bereka , , 3 July 1974 , , Imperial Army , , -

General Requirement

Time Span

Appointment

List of chiefs

Ethiopian Empire (1941–1974)

Derg (1974–1987)

People's Democratic Republic (1987–1991)

Federal Democratic Republic (1991–present)

References

Citations

Bibliography