Ethiopia and Kenya have signed a landmark Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA), forging the second such military-to-military pact between the nations in 62 years. The agreement is the most significant since the original was signed on December 12, 1963, the year Kenya gained its independence.

The DCA was signed at the Ministry of Defence headquarters by Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Chief of General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defence Force, and General Charles Muriu Kahariri, Chief of the Kenyan Defence Forces.

Described as a strategic agreement that goes beyond a typical pact, the DCA enables both countries to work jointly on critical tasks, signifying a high degree of trust and a strengthening obilateral relations.

In his remarks, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula highlighted that the defense institutions of both nations have been collaborating on various military fronts, and this new agreement will only deepen that cooperation. He confirmed that the pact includes key areas such as: Intelligence sharing, Joint military exercises, Training, Military industry, Combating terrorism and Border security.

He further stated that the agreement is expected to positively impact regional peace and security, in addition to benefiting both countries.

General Kahariri expressed gratitude for the warm welcome his delegation received and underscored that the ties between Ethiopia and Kenya are rooted not only in history but also in shared culture, people-to-people connections, and geography. He also emphasized the significant role the agreement will play in fostering regional stability and reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to future collaboration with its Ethiopian counterparts.