{{short description|Protective security unit in Ethiopia}} {{Cleanup|reason=the writing needs drastic improvement|date=July 2021}} {{Infobox military unit | unit_name = Ethiopian Republican Guard | native_name = የሪፓብሊካን ጠባቂ | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | start_date = {{start date and age|2018|12|23|df=yes}} | disbanded = | country = {{flag|Ethiopia}} | allegiance = | branch = | type = Praetorian Guard<br />Special operations force<br />Airborne forces<br />Mechanized infantry | role = Special operations<br />Counter-terrorism<br />Special reconnaissance<br />Airborne infantry | size = | command_structure = {{flagicon|Ethiopia}} Ethiopian National Defense Force | garrison = | garrison_label = | nickname = | patron = | motto = | colors = <!-- or | colours = --> | colors_label = <!-- or | colours_label = --> | march = | mascot = | anniversaries = | equipment = | equipment_label = | battles = {{tree list}} * Ethiopian civil conflict (2018-present) ** Tigray War ** War in Amhara {{tree list/end}} | decorations = | battle_honours = | battle_honours_label = | flying_hours = | website = <!-- Commanders --> | commander1 = President Taye Atske Selassie | commander1_label = Supreme Commander | commander2 = Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed | commander2_label = Commander-in-chief | commander3 = Abraham Belay | commander3_label = Ministry of Defense | commander4 = Field Marshal Birhanu Jula | commander4_label = Chief of the General Staff | commander5 = General Abebaw Tadesse | commander5_label = Deputy Chief of the General Staff | commander6 = Brigadier General Tesfaye Regassa | commander6_label = Commander of the Republican Guard | notable_commanders = <!-- Insignia --> | identification_symbol = | identification_symbol_label = | identification_symbol_2 = | identification_symbol_2_label = | identification_symbol_3 = | identification_symbol_3_label = | identification_symbol_4 = | identification_symbol_4_label = | identification_symbol_5 = | identification_symbol_5_label = }} The '''Ethiopian Republican Guard''' ('''ERG'''; {{langx|am|የሪፐብሊካን ጠባቂ|lit|yerīpebilīkani t’ebak’ī}}) is an elite praetorian guard unit and the special forces branch of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF). It is tasked with providing protection to the Prime Minister and top government officials in Ethiopia and specializes in special operations.<ref name="Africanews23Dec18">{{cite news |last1=Mumbere |first1=Daniel |title=Photos: 'Republican Guard' demonstrates readiness to protect Ethiopia PM |url=http://www.africanews.com/2018/12/23/photos-republican-guard-demonstrates-readiness-to-protect-ethiopia-pm/ |accessdate=11 February 2019 |work=Africanews |date=23 December 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
== History == <!-- Deleted image removed: thumb|Republican Guard demonstrating capabilities. --> Ethiopia had an Imperial Guard during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie, but the Derg disestablished it in 1974. Since 1991, Ethiopian leaders and officials have been protected by security details assigned by the Ethiopian National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).<ref name="Ezega24Dec18">{{cite news |title=Ethiopia Forms Elite Force to Protect Leaders |url=https://www.ezega.com/News/NewsDetails/6864/Ethiopia-Forms-Elite-Force-to-Protect-Leaders |accessdate=11 February 2019 |work=Ezega News |date=24 December 2018 |language=en}}</ref> The security arrangement did not, however, form a force specifically dedicated to this task.<ref name="AfricaNewsFR23Dec18">{{cite news |title=L'Ethiopie se dote d'une garde républicaine |url=http://fr.africanews.com/2018/12/23/l-ethiopie-se-dote-d-une-garde-republicaine/ |accessdate=11 February 2019 |work=Africanews |date=23 December 2018 |language=fr}}</ref>
The Republican Guard was established in summer 2018, following an alleged assassination attempt by an explosion of a hand grenade in the middle of a crowd attending a speech in Addis Ababa of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on 23 June 2018.<ref name="Africanews23Dec18" />
Alongside the June 2018 attack, the Office of Prime Minister linked the establishment of the Republican Guard to other disturbances occurred in Ethiopia.<ref name="Borkena24Dec18">{{cite news |title=Ethiopia's Republican Guard demonstrate readiness to defend leaders |url=https://borkena.com/2018/12/24/ethiopias-republican-guard-demonstrate-readiness-to-defend-leaders/ |accessdate=11 February 2019 |work=Borkena |date=24 December 2018}}</ref> [[File:Secretary Pompeo Meets with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy (49557120286).jpg|thumb|Republican guard soldier (behind) seen with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Mike Pompeo.]]
== Mission == The Republican Guard is tasked with defending the Ethiopia's constitution and constitutional order, specifically by protecting the highest level of Ethiopian leadership from threats and attempted attacks.<ref name="Africanews23Dec18" /> In its specific objective, the Republican Guard is mandated to use any means necessary.
== Organization == The Republican Guard is its own independent branch within the ENDF and separate from the Ethiopian Ground Forces,<ref name="HornObs24Dec18">{{cite news |title=Ethiopia establishes Republican Guard, a new army unit to protect the country's leadership |url=https://hornobserver.net/articles/137/Ethiopia-establishes-Republican-Guard-a-new-army-unit-to-protect-the-countrys-leadership |accessdate=11 February 2019 |work=Horn Observer |date=24 December 2018 |language=English}}</ref> and answerable only to the Prime Minister.<ref name="TO1Jan19">{{cite web|last1=Hagos|first1=Tecola W|date=1 January 2019|title=Ethiopia: Bizarro government? Bizarro politicians? Bizarro nation?|url=http://www.tigraionline.com/articles/abiys-bizarro-ethiogov.html|website=Tigrai Online|language=en|accessdate=11 February 2019}}</ref>
At the time of its establishment, the Chief Commander of the Republican Guard was Brigadier General Birhanu Jula,<ref name="Mereja24Dec18">{{cite news |last1=Hana |first1=Belay |title=Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visits the newly formed Republican Guard |url=https://mereja.com/index/258277 |accessdate=11 February 2019 |work=Mereja.com |date=24 December 2018}}</ref> later replaced by Major General Berhanu Bekele.<ref name="FANABC30Dec20">{{cite news |title=Republican Guard conducts effective operations in law enforcement measures: Chief Commander |url=https://www.fanabc.com/english/republican-guard-conducts-effective-operations-in-law-enforcement-measures-chief-commander/ |access-date=12 December 2021 |work=Fana Broadcasting Corporate|language=en-us}}</ref>
According to Michael Schmidt, the Guard is mostly staffed by soldiers of ethnic Oromo descent.<ref name="BusinessLIVE9May19">{{cite web |last1=Schmidt |first1=Michael |title=Ethiopia's democracy dilemma |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/features/africa/2019-05-09-ethiopias-democracy-dilemma/ |website=BusinessLIVE |accessdate=12 April 2020 |language=en-ZA |date=9 May 2019}}</ref>
=== Branches === As of 2021, the Republican Guard is structured on four different branches, tasked with various missions.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} The bulk of the Republican Guard members is tasked with protecting VIPs. * '''Counter Military Unit''': the Counter Military Unit is a militarily uniformed unit inside the Republican Guard that carries heavy assault rifles such as Tavor-21 and American M-4's and other heavy weapons such as long range snipers that can penetrate bullet proof glass.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} * '''Republican Guard Special Force''': the Republican Guard Special Force is tasked with protecting any high level locations that are militarily, economically, and of national security importance such as Headquarters of the ENDF generals and high military officials. * '''Republican Guard Military Police''': the Military Police is tasked with dealing with security issue should the Federal Police fail.
== Equipment == The Republican Guard are armed with the Israeli-made Tavor Tar-21 and CAR 816 assault rifles, and long range snipers. The Republican Guard also uses helicopters like the Mi-8 and Mi-17 as well as armored vehicles like the BRDM-2 and WZ-551 to protect the Prime minister and President of Ethiopia. They carry hidden guns and use in ear communication. They participate in both special forces and airborne operations and are estimated to be in the thousands.
== References == {{reflist|1}}
Category:2018 establishments in Ethiopia Category:Military units and formations of Ethiopia Category:Military units and formations established in 2018 Category:Protective security units