Ethiopia: Army Issues Stern Warning Against Anyone Who Plans To Violate The Constitution

09/25/2020 Ethiopia



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Addis Ababa – General Berhanu Jula, deputy chief of staff and head of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) military operations division, said the army will be “forced to take action against anyone who claims to have violated the Constitution”.

In an interview with the state-run ENA, General Berhanu said that the postponement of Ethiopia’s sixth general elections followed a constitutional process and warned that state power can only be carried out through elections and not by advocating the chaos of ” transition and caregiver ” [government] diary.

The ENA also quoted General Berhanu as saying that the army will be forced to take action against anyone who plans to impose their interest by force in violation of the constitution. To this end, he warned those who say the incumbent’s constitutional mandate ends in October 2020 and plan to do whatever they want to refrain from such illegal acts.

“The army is not an instrument for any political party and it will not be interrupted from its mission by the noise of any political party or activist,” he said, noting that the army has built a strong internal organization.

“In this sense,” he added, “politicians should in no way follow an agenda related to the defense force in any political campaign.”

Regarding the latest demonetization of Ethiopia, General Berhanu said that the army was tightening its control over all illicit currency transactions following the exchange of the Ethiopian Birr banknote. He warned against spreading false propaganda on the grounds that the military has been granted a blanket permit to take money seized from illicit launderers. The money seized during illicit transactions will be collected in a centralized account and used to strengthen the security structure, he said, adding that the military is aware of the presence of those who deliberately tarnish its name.