ADDIS ABABA (Halbeeg News) – Ethiopia is planning to make a base of its established navy forces in Djibouti and the forces’ commanded will operate in Bahir Dar in Ethiopia.
According to Capital Ethiopia, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy discussed with Djibouti president, Ismail Omar Guelleh in October over the establishment of the base in the tiny horn of Africa nation.
The portal quoting sources privy to the development reported that the government has decided to locate its initial base at Djibouti.
It further said that France is helping the Ethiopian government rebuild the naval force and currently some of the naval personnel have already trained in France, a major power supportive of Ethiopia’s reforms.
Sources familiar with the issue say Ethiopia’s under formation navy has opened a temporary office at the facility which the Metal and Engineering Corporation (MetEC) uses as a head office around Mexico Square, separately from Ministry of Defense.
Sources said the naval command in Ethiopia will be based in Bahir Dar, capital of Amhara region. Brigadier General Kindu Gezu, is leading the reestablishment process in the position of Navy Force Commander, while the search continues for a formal Chief Commander, expected to come to conclusion in the coming weeks.
In 2018, Ethiopian military announced it had decided to reestablish a naval force despite the country’s landlocked geographical location.
The East African country disbanded its navy force more than two decades ago following the separation of Eritrea, leaving Ethiopia without access to a major ocean or sea that would host its naval force.
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