Ethiopian National Defence Force Chief of General Staff in Rwanda

The Chief of the General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF), Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, is in Rwanda for a working visit from 13 to 16 April 2025, and was today received by the Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), General Mubarakh Muganga, at the RDF Headquarters in Kimihurura. He also paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda. "The visit presents a key opportunity to deepen longstanding bilateral cooperation, with discussions between military leaders exploring new areas of collaboration in defence and other related sectors, reaffirming both nations’ commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships and advancing regional peace and security", read the RDF statement." His visit follows that of Gen. Mubarakh Muganga, who travelled to Ethiopia on 13 March 2025, during which a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation was signed between the two army chiefs. Field Marshal Birhanu Jula will also pay respect to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi at the Kigali Genocide Memorial and visit the Campaign Against Genocide Museum. Rwanda and Ethiopia have enjoyed over 20 years of military cooperation, initially focused on joint military training. The partnership has since expanded to include collaboration between the police forces of both countries. Beyond defense and police cooperation, Rwanda and Ethiopia share strong bilateral ties in sectors such as agriculture, trade, education, and more. Over the past seven years, the two nations have also signed agreements in air travel services, allowing for seamless cooperation between their airlines, RwandAir and Ethiopian Airlines.