# Ministry of Defence (Albania)

The Ministry of Defence (Albanian: Ministria e Mbrojtjes) is a department of the Albanian Government, in charge of the formation and implementation of national security and ordering, coordinating and carrying out the general guidelines of the Cabinet about the defence policy, and is the headquarters of the Military of Albania. It is Albania's ministry of defence.
The Defence Minister of Albania is the nominal head of all the military, serving under the President of Albania, who is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Albania. The defence minister exercises the administrative and operational authority over the military. The armed forces under the Ministry of Defence are primarily responsible for ensuring the territorial integrity of the nation.

## Structure

The Ministry of Defence includes numerous smaller agencies aside from the three main branches of the military. These include the Authority of the State Export Control, the Military Export Import Company, the Center of Culture, Media, and Defence Publications, the Inter-Institutional Maritime Operation Centre, and the Defence Intelligence Security Agency. These agencies, centers, and offices report to the Minister of Defence.

### Authority of the State Export Control

The Authority of the State Export Control (AKSHE) (Albanian: Autoriteti i Kontrollit Shtetëror të Eksporteve) is the agency tasked with controlling the export, import, and transportation of military goods.

### Centre of Culture, Media, and Defence Publications

The Centre of Culture, Media, and Defence Publications (QKMBM) (Albanian: Qendra e Kulturës, Medias, Botimeve të Mbrojtjes, Muzeut dhe Shtëpive të Pushimit) is an organization involved in public relations and general communications for the Ministry of Defence. It is itself composed of the Directorate of Public Relations and Communications, the Directorate of Publications, the Directorate of the Community Relations Activities, and the Directorate of Sports Activities.

### Inter-Institutional Maritime Operation Centre

The Inter-Institutional Maritime Operation Centre (IMOC) (Albanian: Qendra Ndërinstitucionale Operacionale Detare) is an inter-ministry agency tasked with managing Albania's maritime territory. It is a collaboration between the Ministries of Defence, Internal Affairs, Finance, Environment, Transportation, Agriculture, and Tourism.

### Defence Intelligence Security Agency (Albania)

The Defence Intelligence Security Agency (DISA) (Albanian: Agjencia e Inteligjencës dhe Sigurisë së Mbrojtjes (AISM)) is a military intelligence agency within the Ministry of Defence, which provides intelligence to the Ministry as well as the Albanian Armed Forces. It is governed by Law No. 65/2014.

## Reorganization

Since the establishment of the institution, the Ministry of Defence has undergone several administrative changes to its organizational structure. When a new department was formed, it often merged with the ministry thus expanding its role, subsequently leading to the name of the ministry being changed. If that department later broke off as a separate ministry or was dissolved, the ministry reverted to its original name.
* Ministry of War (1912–1939)
* Ministry of War and Defence Command (1944–1946)
* Ministry of National Defence (1946–1950)
* Ministry of People's Defence (1950–1991)
* Ministry of Defence (1991–present)

## Subordinate institutions

* Armed Forces Academy
* Export Control State Authority (AKSHE)
* Center of Culture, Media and Defence Publications (QKMBM)
* Inter-Institutional Marine Operation Centre (QNOD)

## Officeholders (1912–present)

| No. | Name | Term in office | Term in office |
| 1 | Mehmet Deralla | 4 December 1912 | 24 January 1914 |
| 2 | Esad Toptani | 14 March 1914 | 20 May 1914 |
| 3 | Kara Seit Pasha | August 1914 | 3 September 1914 |
| 4 | Isuf Dibra | 5 October 1914 | 27 January 1916 |
| 5 | Ali Riza Kolonja | 30 January 1920 | 4 November 1920 |
| 6 | Selahudin Shkoza | 15 November 1920 | 16 October 1921 |
| 7 | Isuf Gjinali | 16 October 1921 | 6 December 1921 |
| 8 | Zija Dibra | 6 December 1921 | 12 December 1921 |
| 9 | Shefki Kosturi | 12 December 1921 | 24 December 1921 |
| 10 | Ismail Haki Tatzati | 24 December 1921 | 19 August 1923 |
| 11 | Mustafa Aranitasi | 19 August 1923 | 25 February 1924 |
| – | Mustafa Aranitasi | 30 May 1924 | 10 June 1924 |
| 12 | Kasem Qafzezi | 16 June 1924 | 24 December 1924 |
| 13 | Enver Hoxha | 23 October 1944 | 31 July 1953 |
| 14 | Beqir Balluku | 1 August 1953 | 28 October 1974 |
| 15 | Mehmet Shehu | 28 October 1974 | 18 December 1981 |
| 16 | Kadri Hazbiu | 15 January 1982 | 10 October 1982 |
| 17 | Prokop Murra | 10 October 1982 | 7 July 1990 |
| 18 | Kiço Mustaqi | 8 July 1990 | 10 May 1991 |
| 19 | Ndriçim Karakaçi | 11 May 1991 | 4 June 1991 |
| 20 | Perikli Teta | 11 June 1991 | 6 December 1991 |
| 21 | Alfred Moisiu | 18 December 1991 | 13 April 1992 |
| 22 | Safet Zhulali | 13 April 1992 | 1 March 1997 |
| 23 | Shaqir Vukaj | 11 March 1997 | 24 July 1997 |
| 24 | Sabit Brokaj | 25 July 1997 | 23 April 1998 |
| 25 | Luan Hajdaraga | 24 April 1998 | 8 July 2000 |
| 26 | Ilir Gjoni | 8 July 2000 | 9 November 2000 |
| 27 | Ismail Lleshi | 9 November 2000 | 6 September 2001 |
| 28 | Pandeli Majko | 6 September 2001 | 29 January 2002 |
| 29 | Luan Rama | 22 February 2002 | 25 July 2002 |
| – | Pandeli Majko | 29 July 2002 | 10 September 2005 |
| 30 | Fatmir Mediu | 11 September 2005 | 21 March 2008 |
| 31 | Gazmend Oketa | 28 March 2008 | 17 September 2009 |
| 32 | Arben Imami | 17 September 2009 | 15 September 2013 |
| 33 | Mimi Kodheli | 15 September 2013 | 13 September 2017 |
| 34 | Olta Xhaçka | 13 September 2017 | 31 December 2020 |
| 35 | Niko Peleshi | 4 January 2021 | 30 July 2024 |
| 36 | Pirro Vengu | 30 July 2024 | Incumbent |