The Ethiopian Defense Forces (EDF) kicked off preparatory celebrations on Friday February 8, for the first-ever Army Day commemoration scheduled to begin on February 17. Various armaments were displayed at Meskel Square, indicating weapons capabilities of the Armed Forces which have been involved in the defense of Ethiopia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
A military exhibition was also launched at the Addis Ababa exhibition centre on the same day, attended by prominent personalities, such as Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Gen. Samora Younus, Head of the EDF.
February 17 was the date chosen, because it is the day when the EDF came into formal existence through proclamation, several months after the constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) was formally enacted in November 1995.