Addis Ababa (KAAB TV) – Ethiopia and Kenya sign a Defense Cooperation Agreement in Addis Ababa, strengthening military ties and regional collaboration. The agreement comes exactly 60 years after the two nations first formalized military ties in 1963, the year Kenya gained independence.
The landmark agreement was signed at Ethiopia’s National Defense Headquarters following a high-level bilateral meeting between Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), and General Charles Kahariri, Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
This renewed DCA reflects the enduring fraternal relations between Ethiopia and Kenya—two countries historically bound by deep diplomatic, political, economic, and cultural ties. The agreement builds upon decades of cooperation and responds to the evolving security landscape of the Horn of Africa.
A series of preparatory consultations took place over the past year in both Nairobi and Addis Ababa. Notably, a Kenyan military delegation visited Addis Ababa in November 2024 to discuss joint training and operational integration. These meetings paved the way for the updated DCA, which was finalized and signed on September 24, 2025.
The new Defense Cooperation Agreement outlines a comprehensive framework for collaboration, including, Joint military exercises and training programs, Counter-terrorism operations, Border security and surveillance, Information and intelligence sharing, Defense industry development and innovation, Peacekeeping missions and regional stabilization efforts.
One of the immediate outcomes of this strengthened partnership is the coordinated deployment of Ethiopian and Kenyan troops under the African Union Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), reaffirming the two nations’ shared commitment to regional peace and counter-terrorism.
Both military leaders emphasized that the agreement is not just a bilateral milestone, but a significant contribution to regional peace and security.
General Charles Kahariri underscored the broader significance of the partnership, stating:
“This agreement is a clear demonstration of Africa’s interdependence. It reflects our shared responsibility to secure our future through cooperation, innovation, and united action.
By investing in joint defense infrastructure and operational readiness, we are safeguarding the stability of the region.”
Field Marshal Birhanu Jula echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that the collaboration draws upon the shared history, geography, and challenges of the two neighboring nations:
“The Ethiopian National Defense Forces are fully committed to this renewed cooperation. This agreement reaffirms the traditional brotherhood between Ethiopia and Kenya—anchored in our common borders, mutual interests, and the pressing need to secure our peoples against current and emerging threats.”
He added that the agreement would not only reinforce national security but also serve as a catalyst for peace and development across East Africa.
The two countries have already conducted a series of joint military exercises, which have laid the groundwork for the newly signed DCA.
The formalized framework is expected to improve interoperability, emergency response coordination, and operational readiness in addressing complex threats such as terrorism, cross-border crime, and humanitarian crises.
With both countries playing critical roles in East African security frameworks, the Ethiopia-Kenya Defense Cooperation Agreement is poised to be a model for inter-African military collaboration—demonstrating how neighboring states can harness their shared strengths to achieve collective security and sustainable peace.