Strengthened Cooperation Key to Safeguarding National Interests, Ambassador Redwan Says

Addis Ababa, April 3, 2026 (ENA) — Ambassador Redwan Hussein has stressed that achieving excellence across all sectors and reinforcing collaboration is essential to safeguarding Ethiopia’s national security and broader regional interests.

The Director General of the National Intelligence and Security Service made the remarks during the second National Security Conference held in Addis Ababa.

Ensuring excellence in all domains and strengthening cooperation is an urgent and unavoidable necessity to protect Ethiopia’s security and national interests, he said.

Reflecting on recent years, Ambassador Redwan noted that the security landscape has been marked by volatility, unpredictability, and complex challenges.

He further pointed out that anti-peace elements and terrorist groups operating in the Amhara and Oromia regions continue to pose threats, while both domestic and external actors are attempting to destabilize the country.

Despite these pressures, he affirmed that security and intelligence institutions are effectively carrying out their mandates through coordinated operations, community engagement, and law enforcement measures that ensure public safety and freedom of movement.

The Ambassador also highlighted growing regional and global security concerns.

He cited the escalating conflict in Sudan and the reemergence of extremist groups such as Al Shabaab and ISIS in Somalia, warning that their methods are becoming increasingly changeable, adding that instability is also rising in other parts of the region.

“In such a fluid global environment, building a competitive national capacity is critical,” he said, emphasizing the importance of coordination and synergy among institutions to strengthen national defense capabilities.

Ambassador Redwan further noted that tensions in the Middle East are creating additional risks, particularly for landlocked countries like Ethiopia.

He explained that shifting geopolitical dynamics and competition over the Red Sea are complicating the country’s efforts to secure reliable sea access.

Ethiopia’s quest for sea access is not only about port services, it has significant implications for national and regional security, the intelligence chief underscored.

He further elaborated that the need for enhanced diplomatic engagement to   ensure that regional stakeholders cooperate for mutual benefit regarding access to the Red Sea.

The Director General also indicated that security institutions must align their strategies with both immediate and long-term national interests.

He said the National Intelligence and Security Service is working to ensure sustainable peace, advance national priorities, and strengthen Ethiopia’s role at regional and global levels.

The agency is undergoing institutional transformation through human resource development, improved operational efficiency, structural reforms, and the integration of modern technologies, he added.

Ambassador Redwan also stated that NISS will continue to deepen cooperation with federal and regional institutions, as well as with international partners sharing common objectives.

He cautioned that Ethiopia’s longstanding adversaries are attempting to exploit the current global and regional uncertainties.