Ethiopia plays remarkable role in peacekeeping mission: MoD

Addis Ababa, May 27 (WIC) – Ginbot 20 has enabled Ethiopia to assume the pole position in peacekeeping missions in Africa, Ministry of Defense (MoD) said.

In an exclusive interview with WIC, Brigadier General Hassen Ibrahim, Commander-in-Chief of Peacekeeping Center at the MoD, said that beyond ensuring peace, democracy and development to Ethiopia Ginbot 20 has opened an opportunity for the country to ensure peace to the rest of Africa. 

The country is bracing to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the downfall of the Derg regime. The day is marked nationwide on May 28 (Ginbot 20) signifying the date the former dictator Mengistu Hailemariam’s regime crumbled in May 1991.

The first peacekeeping operation under the incumbent Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) began in 1994 with a mission to Rwanda. Since then some 35,000 troops were sent to various countries for peacekeeping operations.  

“Wherever they go Ethiopian peacekeeping forces execute their mission effectively commanding admirations from the United Nations and African Union,” said the Commander-in-Chief. “The troops not only engage in peacekeeping operations but also take part in development activities.”

Currently over 6,400 Ethiopian troops are engaged in peacekeeping missions in Darfur, Abiye region, Liberia and Ivory Cost. This puts Ethiopia first in Africa and only fourth from the world in peacekeeping operations.