At the end of a meeting held in Addis Ababa on Monday, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Chief of Staff of Ethiopia’s National Defense Force, and his Djiboutian counterpart General Zakaria Cheikh Ibrahim signed the strategic alliance.

Among other aspects, the agreement includes increased information exchange, collaboration in fighting terrorism, establishment of training programs, joint border protection and exercises to maintain stability in the two territories, Jula stated.

The signing of the agreement, after the 9th Ethio-Djibouti Defense Chiefs of Staff Meeting, honors the strong and historical relations of our countries, which enjoy great cultural fraternity, the field marshal commented at a press briefing.

Cheikh Ibrahim, during his appearance, stressed that “the established commitment ratifies the memorandum of understanding signed previously by the two countries” to fight destabilizing actions and prevent trafficking and other common crimes in the border areas.

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