# Chief of General Staff (Ethiopia)

The Chief of General Staff (Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ጦር ኃይሎች ጠቅላይ ሹም, romanized: Ye’ītiyop’iya t’ori ḫayilochi t’ek’ilayi shumi) Abbreviated (CGS Ethiopia) is the professional head of the Ethiopian National Defense Force. The chief is responsible for the administration and the operational control of the Ethiopian military. The current Chief of General Staff is Field marshal Birhanu Jula who was appointed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on 4 November 2020 succeeding General Adem Mohammed.

## General Requirement

The CCS needs a lot of requirements among these
* Military Rank and Experience:
** The individual must be a senior officer, usually holding the rank of Major General or Lieutenant General before being considered for the position.
** They should have served in various high-ranking military positions and demonstrated effective leadership and strategic capabilities.
* Training and Education:
** A graduate of a military academy or officer training school is typically required. For the ENDF, this would most likely involve training at the Ethiopian Military Academy or similar institutions.
** Advanced military education, such as courses at top military institutions (e.g., Ethiopian National Defense College or international military academies), would also be beneficial.
* Proven Leadership and Service Record:
** A strong record of leadership and performance in combat or military operations. This includes experience in various military branches, such as infantry, artillery, intelligence, or logistics.
** Serving in significant roles during military operations and demonstrating success in managing and executing defense strategies.
* Political and Administrative Understanding:
** The Chief of the General Staff is not only a military leader but also often plays a significant role in national security and policy decisions. Understanding the political environment and having strong relationships with political leaders is important.
* Physical Fitness and Health:
** Military leaders are expected to maintain high physical fitness levels, so meeting the physical standards for military service would be necessary.
* Trust and Loyalty:
** As the head of the ENDF, the Chief of the General Staff must have the trust of the government, the President, and other senior officials. Political alignment and loyalty to the ruling government can play a role in appointments to such a prestigious and powerful position.
* Leadership in National Defense Strategy:
** The individual must be capable of shaping the country’s defense strategy, ensuring the country’s military is prepared for any national security threats, and leading the military in defense of the nation’s interests.

## Appointment process

* The Prime Minister of Ethiopia typically appoints the Chief of the General Staff, often after consulting with other high-ranking military and Government officials.
* The appointment may also involve review and recommendations by senior military leadership.

## List of chiefs
### Ethiopian Empire (1941–1974)

| No. | Chief of Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Defence branch |
| ? | Buli, MulugetaMajor general Mulugeta Buli (1917–1960) | November 1956 | 1958 | 1–2 years | Imperial Army |
| ? | Lieutenant General Eyasu Mengesha | | | | Imperial Army |
| ? | Lieutenant General Haile Baykedagen | | | | Imperial Army |
| ? | Lieutenant General Assefa Ayane | | | | Imperial Air Force |
| ? | Lieutenant General Wolde Selassie Bereka | | 3 July 1974 | | Imperial Army |
| ? | Andom, AmanLieutenant General Aman Andom (1924–1974) | 3 July 1974 | 12 September 1974 | 66 days | Imperial Army |

### Derg (1974–1987)

| No. | Chief of Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Defence branch |
| 1 | Andom, AmanLieutenant General Aman Andom (1924–1974) | 12 September 1974 | 17 November 1978 † | 66 days | Army |
| 2 | Lieutenant General Moges Haile | 1976 | 1980 | 4–5 years | Air force |
| 3 | Negussie, MeridMajor General Merid Negussie (1924–1974) | 1980 | January 1981 | 0–1 years | Kebur Zabagna |
| ? | Tedla, AddisLieutenant General Addis Tedla | 1972 | ? | 1980 | Air force |

### People's Democratic Republic (1987–1991)

| No. | Portrait | Chief of Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Defence branch | Ref. |
| 1 | | Negussie, MeridMajor General Merid Negussie (1934–1989) | 22 February 1987 | 18 May 1989 † | 2 years, 85 days | Kebur Zabagna | |
| 2 | | Tedla, AddisLieutenant general Addis Tedla | 26 May 1989 | 28 May 1991 | 2 years, 2 days | Air force | |

### Federal Democratic Republic (1991–present)

| No. | Chief of Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office |
| 1 | Tsadkan GebretensaeLieutenant general Tsadkan Gebretensae | 28 May 1991 | 2001 | 9–10 years |
| 2 | Yunis, SamoraGeneral Samora Yunis (born c. 1949) | 2001 | 7 June 2018 | 16–17 years |
| 3 | Mekonen, SeareGeneral Seare Mekonen (1954–2019) | 7 June 2018 | 22 June 2019 † | 1 year, 15 days |
| 4 | Mohammed, AdemGeneral Adem Mohammed | 27 June 2019 | 4 November 2020 | 1 year, 130 days |
| 5 | Jula, BirhanuField Marshal General Birhanu Jula (born 1965) | 4 November 2020 | Incumbent | 4 years, 121 days |