Republican Guard (Ethiopia)
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| Republican Guard | |
|---|---|
| የሪፓብሊካን ጠባቂ | |
| Active | 23 December 2018 – present |
| Country |  Ethiopia |
| Role | Protective security unit |
| Part of | Ethiopian National Defense Force |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Brigadier General Birhanu Bekele |
The Ethiopian Republican Guard is a specialist armed unit, tasked with the protection of top public officials of Ethiopia and of their families.[1]
History[]
Ethiopia had an Imperial Guard during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie, but the Derg disestablished it in 1974. Since 1991, Ethiopian leaders and officials have been protected by security details assigned by the Ethiopian National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).[2] The security arrangement did not, however, form a force specifically dedicated to this task.[3]
The Republican Guard was established in summer 2018, following the explosion of a hand grenade in the middle of a crowd attending a speech in Addis Ababa of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on 23 June 2018.[1] Alongside the June 2018 attack, the Office of Prime Minister linked the establishment of the Republican Guard to other disturbances occurred in Ethiopia.[4]
Organization[]
The Republican Guard is described either as an army unit,[5] either as being outside the Ethiopian National Defense Force, but answerable only to the Prime Minister.[6]
As of December 2018, the chief of the Republican Guard is Brigadier general .[7] According Michael Schmidt, the Guard is mostly staffed by soldiers of Oromo ethnic origin.[8]
Mission[]
The Republican Guard is tasked with defending the Ethiopia’s constitution and constitutional order, specifically by protecting the highest level of the Ethiopian leadership from threats and attempted attacks.[1] In its specific objective, the Republican Guard is mandated to use any means necessary.
Weapons[]
- The Republican Guards are armed with the Israeli made Tavor Tar-21 assault rife. The Republican Guard also uses helicopters as well. With long rang snipers. They also use armored vehicles to protect the Prime minister and President of Ethiopia. And also carry with them hidden guns. They uses communications on their ears. They are apart of the Ethiopian National Defense Force. Because of this they participate in special operations with helicopters and are estimated to at least be in the thousands.[citation needed]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Mumbere, Daniel (23 December 2018). "Photos: 'Republican Guard' demonstrates readiness to protect Ethiopia PM". Africanews. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "Ethiopia Forms Elite Force to Protect Leaders". Ezega News. 24 December 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "L'Ethiopie se dote d'une garde républicaine". Africanews (in French). 23 December 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "Ethiopia's Republican Guard demonstrate readiness to defend leaders". Borkena. 24 December 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "Ethiopia establishes Republican Guard, a new army unit to protect the country's leadership". Horn Observer. 24 December 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ Hagos, Tecola W (1 January 2019). "Ethiopia: Bizarro government? Bizarro politicians? Bizarro nation?". Tigrai Online. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ Hana, Belay (24 December 2018). "Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visits the newly formed Republican Guard". Mereja.com. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ Schmidt, Michael (9 May 2019). "Ethiopia's democracy dilemma". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- Military units and formations of Ethiopia
- Military units and formations established in 2018
- 2010s establishments in Ethiopia
- Protective security units