|
Ethiopia NATIONAL SECURITY
Armed Forces: In mid-1991, combined strength
of
Ethiopian
armed forces about 438,000. Ground forces estimated at
430,000 (including about 200,000 members of People's
Militia). Air force estimated at 4,500. Navy estimated at
3,500. After downfall of Mengistu regime, armed forces
collapsed and were dismantled by EPRDF. In mid-1993, EPRDF
had 100,000 to 120,000 guerrillas under arms; EPLF had
between 85,000 and 100,000. Both planned to transform their
forces into conventional armies and also to reconstitute air
forces and navies.
Combat Units and Major Equipment: Before
mid-1991,
ground
forces organized into five revolutionary armies comprising
thirty-one infantry divisions supported by thirty-two tank
battalions, forty artillery battalions, twelve air defense
battalions, and eight commando brigades. Major weapons
systems included T-54/55 and T-62 tanks, various caliber
howitzers and guns, antiaircraft guns, and surface-to-air
missiles. Air force organized into seven fighter-ground
attack squadrons, one transport squadron, and one training
squadron. Equipment included 150 combat aircraft. Navy
equipment included two frigates and twenty-four patrol and
coastal combatants.
After downfall of Mengistu government, several insurgent
groups, including EPRDF, EPLF, and Oromo Liberation Front,
captured a considerable amount of ground equipment; former
soldiers sold an unknown quantity of small arms and light
equipment throughout Horn of Africa. Naval crews with their
vessels and an unknown number of pilots with their aircraft
scattered to neighboring countries. Information on military
organization, personnel strength, and equipment types and
numbers in both Ethiopia and Eritrea unavailable as of mid1993 .
Defense Budget: Estimated at US$472 million
in
1987-88. No
figures available for defense expenditures for Ethiopia or
Eritrea as of mid-1993.
Police Agencies and Paramilitary Forces:
National
police
included paramilitary Mobile Emergency Police Force,
estimated at 9,000. Paramilitary frontier guards. Local law
enforcement delegated to civilian paramilitary People's
Protection Brigades. By mid-1993, national police force
functioning throughout Ethiopia in place of EPRDF soldiers.
EPLF personnel performed police duties throughout Eritrea.
Data as of 1991
|
