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APA -Addis Ababa(Ethiopia)
07 March 2025 | 11:21
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Ethiopia has sealed ammunition export deals valued at over $30 million over the past three months, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has disclosed.
Ahmed’s announcement came as he inaugurated the newly completed Homicho Ammunition Engineering Complex on Thursday.
He said the complex, a key component of the Ethiopian Defense Industrial Sector, now produces a wide range of munitions not only for domestic use but also for the international market.
“We have signed contracts with numerous countries for the sale of ammunition, generating over $30 million in just the last three months,” stated the prime minister, noting that the shipment of the ammunition will begin shortly.
The complex produces a variety of munitions, including those for Kalashnikov rifles, Bren guns, sniper rifles, DShK heavy machine guns, and tank artillery.
He said the nation managed to build a factory with sufficient capacity, equipped with highly modern robotics, capable of high-volume production.
“The fact that we have moved from importing Kalashnikovs and sniper rifles to producing and exporting them, and that this capability was built in such a short time, fills me with great honour and joy,” he said.
Ahmed underscored the significance of self-reliance in military production, drawing from his own experience as a soldier.
“I am a soldier. I understand the gaps in military supplies. I know how difficult it is when things are lacking during operations. Now, Ethiopia does not have to worry about such shortages,” he asserted.
While acknowledging previous attempts at domestic ammunition production, he noted that Ethiopia had relied heavily on imports until recently.
He recalled that there were previous attempts to manufacture bullets domestically.
His country relied on imports until three years ago and stressed the need for strategic capabilities to safeguard Ethiopia’s future.
MG/as/APA