AMN PLUS-October 10, 2026
In a statement released on its official social media account, the Ministry of National Defense of Ethiopia said the country’s long history of independence, sovereignty and national pride has been sustained by the resilience of its people and the capabilities of its defense forces.
The statement said Ethiopia had overcome major challenges to its existence throughout its history through the steadfastness of its people and the strength of its defense forces.
The ministry cited the Ethiopian Defense Forces’ anthem, which says, “The people are our mighty arm; peace and development are our language,” as reflecting the military’s identity, vision and commitment to safeguarding national unity and supporting development.
According to the statement, any assessment that fails to recognize the unity of the Ethiopian people and understand the resilience of the defense forces is misguided. It described the military as a force that emerged from the people, carries out a mandate entrusted to it by the public, and enjoys their support.
The ministry stated that military strength alone, including access to modern weapons and foreign support, would not guarantee victory without public backing.
“No matter how advanced their weapons or how much foreign support they receive, forces of destruction can never win a war without the support of the people,” the statement reads.
The statement also said the Ethiopian Defense Forces contribute not only to maintaining peace and security but also to development activities alongside the public. It added that the diversity of Ethiopia’s nations and nationalities, reflected in the composition of the military, is one of the factors behind its strength.
The ministry described the defense forces as a guardian of peace rather than a force seeking war, saying their use of arms is intended to safeguard peace, enable citizens to engage in productive activities without fear and create favorable conditions for national development.
It further noted that the Ethiopian Defense Forces have demonstrated their commitment to peace through domestic security responsibilities and participation in international and African Union peacekeeping missions.
According to the statement, the defense forces have strengthened their overall preparedness in several key areas to address potential threats. These include developing a strong military mindset and commitment to defending the country’s sovereignty, as well as modernizing military capabilities in line with contemporary warfare.
The ministry said the modernization efforts include the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, cyber defense capabilities, advanced communications systems and heavy weaponry.
The statement cited the victories of Adwa and Karamara, along with more recent operations described as campaigns to safeguard the country’s existence, as defining moments in the history of the defense forces. It asserted that the military has the capacity to counter attacks from any direction within a short period.
The ministry also maintained that public support has been a key factor in the military’s performance, stating that the defense forces have a record of successfully carrying out their assigned missions.
The statement added that, regardless of changes in the strategies and operations of forces hostile to Ethiopia, the defense forces’ public support base and military capabilities would enable them to counter threats to the country.
Reaffirming the principle that “The people are our mighty arm; peace and development are our language,” the ministry said the defense forces would continue working to safeguard Ethiopia’s sovereignty and peace and support the country’s development.
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By Leta Teresa
