Despite Aid Cut, US Backs Ethiopia's Defense

Oct 3 , 2020

The United States Department of Defense has handed over 2.9 million dollars worth of equipment and training to the Ethiopian National Defense Force to assist the country's efforts to defend against threats posed by al-Shabaab in Somalia and other terrorist organisations. The support arrives a month after the Trump administration announced that it has chopped close to 130 million dollars from funds appropriated to support Ethiopia's defence and counter-terrorism activities. The aid cut followed the outstanding issues Ethiopia has with Egypt and Sudan over the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). With the latest partnership to strengthen the capacity of the National Defense Force, the United States has donated troop transport vehicles, land cruisers, water trailers, operation centre computers, fuel trucks, cargo trucks, ambulances and night vision devices.