Mekelle, Tigray January 20,2025 (Tigray Herald)
Lieutenant General Alemshet Degife, Military Advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) openly declared Eritrea and Egypt historical enemy.
Lieutenant General Alemshet Degife, Military Advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (#ENDF) and Chief of the Fire Command, announced plans to reduce the military’s involvement in policing and transfer these responsibilities to regional police forces and local militias. Speaking in a two-part interview with ENDF Media, he emphasized, “It is not sustainable for the national defense force to be deployed in every village, woreda, kebele, and city.” General Alemshet reflected on the challenges posed by prolonged military deployments over the past five to six years, particularly in the Tigray, Oromia, and Amhara regions. He outlined a strategy to withdraw troops to their camps and prioritize training, stating, “We are planning to return the military to its camp and focus on training. In this regard, we believe we will succeed, and our forces will get the necessary rest.”
Lieutenant General Alemshet Degife,, a senior Ethiopian army officer, suggested that the ongoing, two-year-long conflict against the Fano rebels in the Amhara region will be dealt with by a militia force as the army decided to withdraw from the Amhara region. The General argued that Fano rebels are divided and lack proper organization that a police and militia force would be sufficient to deal with them.
According to the General, the army (ENDF), which involved in a bloody conflicts both in Tigray and Oromia regions, will return to its barracks for a break and additional training in preparation for larger future wars. He also stated that the Turkish government, through the Ankara Agreement signed with #Somalia, “recognizes Ethiopia’s right to sea access,” describing the agreement as a major victory for #Ethiopia – at least that’s how this illiterate army general believes it. “What’s wrong with us requesting our own sea access?” asked the general. “It’s our right,” he added. He also characterized #Eritrea and #Egypt as “historical enemies” of Ethiopia.
He accused TPLF of making big mistake by giving away Ethiopia port access referring to Assab Eritrea.
Later on Minister of Government Communication Service, Legesse Tulu, dismissed Lt. Gen. Alemshet Degife’s remarks regarding the planned withdrawal of government troops from the Amhara region for reasons of war fatigues, stating that the claims are inaccurate and represent only the general’s personal opinion. However, the Minister did not refute or classify the General’s remark describing #Eritrea as “Ethiopia’s historical enemy” as a personal opinion.
