Tsadkan Gebretensae

This is an Ethiopian name. The last name is a patronymic, not a family name; this person is referred to by the given name Tsadkan.
Tsadkan Gebretensae
Tsadkan in the 1990s
Native name
ጻድቃን ገብረትንሣኤ
Bornc.1953
Chercher, Raya Azebo, Tigray Province, Ethiopian Empire
Allegiance TPLF (1976–1991)
 Ethiopia (1991–2001)
Tigray Defense Forces (2020–present)
Service / branchTigray People's Liberation Front
Ethiopian National Defense Force
Tigray Defense Forces
RankLieutenant general
Battles / warsEthiopian Civil War
Insurgency in Ogaden
Eritrean–Ethiopian War
Tigray War

Tsadkan Gebretensae (Tigrinya: ጻድቃን ገብረትንሣኤ; born c.1953) is an Ethiopian former military officer. He is a Lieutenant general and member of the central command of the Tigray Defense Forces.[1][2] In 1976 Tsadkan joined Tigray People's Liberation Front, becoming one of its main commanders in the Ethiopian Civil War. Following the war, he became chief of staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force, rebuilding the force and leading it in the Eritrean-Ethiopian War. After the start of the Tigray War in 2020, he rejoined the Tigray's military leadership. Tsadkan is widely regarded as one of Africa's best military thinkers and strategists.[3][4]

  1. ^ de Waal, Alex (1 July 2021). "Gen Tsadkan Gebretensae: Ethiopia's Tigray rebel mastermind". BBC. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Lt. General Tsadkan Gebretensae, Tignigna interview on current Ethiopian politics 2016". Tigrai Online. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Tigray Crisis: A Conversation With General Tsadkan Gebretensae, Tigray Defense Force Central Command". ELEPHANT. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Gen Tsadkan Gebretensae: Ethiopia's Tigray rebel mastermind". Insider Voice. 7 July 2021. Archived from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.