Ethiopia Marks 119th Defense Forces Day

Ethiopia has commemorated its 119th Defense Forces Day under the theme “Army of Victory.” The ceremony was attended by Chief of General Staff Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Minister of Defense Mohammed Idris, senior government officials, and members of the diplomatic community. The annual event traces the origins of the modern Ethiopian military to Tikimt 15, 1900 (Ethiopian Calendar), when the country appointed its first Minister of War. The celebration serves to honor military personnel who sacrificed their lives for national sovereignty and to preserve the institutional history and legacy of the Ethiopian National Defense Force. It emphasizes the armed forces' ongoing role in protecting the country's territorial integrity.