Ethiopia, Russia signs military cooperation agreement

Russia and Ethiopia on Monday, 12 July signed a military cooperation agreement.
The military cooperation agreement came after a three days deliberations held as part of the military technical cooperation forum in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Finance Division State Minister of the Ethiopian National Defense Force Martha Liwij said the agreements will have a “paramount significance” in transforming the longstanding relations between the two nations to a higher level.

“The agreement will be focusing on transforming capacity of the [Ethiopian] national defense force in knowledge, skill and technology spheres,” it said.

For decades, Russia have been the major source of military equipment to Ethiopia. Russia has been increasing it’s presence in Africa in order to counter growing U.S., France and Turkey’s involvement in the continent.