Ethiopia Designates Electromagnetic Spectrum as Key National Security Pillar

January 2, 2026 (ENA)—Ethiopia has formally elevated control of the electromagnetic spectrum to the level of an existential national security priority, as senior government and security officials convened for the country’s first-ever Electronic Warfare Workshop.

The high-level workshop, hosted at the headquarters of the Information Network Security Administration (INSA), was held under the theme “Electromagnetic Spectrum Dominance for National Sovereignty.”

 It brought together leaders from major peace, security, and intelligence institutions to address the growing strategic importance of electronic warfare.

Opening the event as Guest of Honor, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Chief of General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), stated that electronic warfare is no longer optional in modern defense planning.

 He emphasized that in the 21st century, sovereignty depends not only on control of land, air, sea, and space, but increasingly on dominance of the invisible electromagnetic domain.

Field Marshal Birhanu noted that the nature of warfare and power competition is rapidly evolving.

He warned that conflicts are now shaped by who can control communications, radar, and electronic signals, making the electromagnetic spectrum a decisive factor in determining victory or defeat. Given Ethiopia’s size and complex regional security environment, he described effective spectrum management as essential to the country’s survival and long-term stability.

INSA Director General Tigist Hamid echoed this assessment, explaining that geopolitical competition has expanded beyond traditional military and cyber domains into the electromagnetic spectrum.

She said the workshop aims to strengthen national understanding of this emerging battlefield, build reliable spectrum superiority, and enhance institutional preparedness.

She added that the presence of senior leaders from multiple security institutions reflects Ethiopia’s commitment to addressing modern threats through coordinated, science-based approaches.

Strengthening institutional cooperation and integrating existing capacities were identified as key goals of the gathering.

Speaking at the workshop, Ambassador Redwan Hussein, Director General of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), stressed that modern national security is defined less by troop numbers or weapons stockpiles and more by technological advantage.

He highlighted early information acquisition, spectrum control, and the ability to deny adversaries access to it as decisive strategic tools.

According to Ambassador Redwan, mastery of the electromagnetic domain enables faster decision-making and provides a critical edge in both defensive and offensive operations.

The technical foundation of the workshop was reinforced by a presentation from Daniel Guta, Deputy Director General of INSA, who outlined the history of electronic warfare, global best practices, and Ethiopia’s current and future posture. His presentation identified priority areas required to achieve sustainable electromagnetic spectrum superiority.

The event concluded with a high-level panel discussion involving senior officials from multiple institutions.

Panelists underscored the need to designate lead authorities for spectrum management, invest in research and development, and deepen inter-agency coordination to protect Ethiopia’s present and future sovereignty.