Military force of Eritrea
Eritrean Defence Forces |
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![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/61/Eritrean_Defence_Force_badge.svg/220px-Eritrean_Defence_Force_badge.svg.png) Eritrean Defence Force badge |
Founded | 24 May 1991 |
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Service branches | |
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Headquarters | Asmara |
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Commander-in-Chief | Isaias Afewerki |
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Minister of Defence | General Filipos Woldeyohannes |
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Chief of Staff | General Filipos Woldeyohannes |
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Military age | 18 years old |
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Conscription | Open-ended |
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Available for military service | 1,985,023 males, age 18–40[3] (2004 est.), 1,980,987 females, age 18–40[3] (2004 est.) |
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Fit for military service | 1,599,979 males, age 18–40[3] (2004 est.), 1,590,899 females, age 18–40[3] (2004 est.) |
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Active personnel | 200,000[1] |
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Reserve personnel | 500,000 [2] |
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Budget | US$ 640 million[4] |
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Percent of GDP | 10.9% (2019 est.)[4] |
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Foreign suppliers | China Russia Egypt Japan India Israel United States |
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History | Military history of Eritrea
Eritrean War of Independence Hanish Islands Crisis Second Sudanese Civil War First Congo War Eritrean–Ethiopian War Djiboutian–Eritrean border conflict 2013 Eritrean Army mutiny Battle of Tsorona Tigray War |
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Ranks | Military ranks of Eritrea |
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The Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) (Tigrinya: ሓይልታት ምክልኻል ኤርትራ[pronunciation?]) are the combined military forces of Eritrea composed of three branches: Eritrean Army, Eritrean Air Force and Eritrean Navy. The Army is by far the largest, followed by the Air Force and Navy. The Commander-in-Chief of the EDF is the President of Eritrea. Their military role stems from Eritrea's strategic geographical location, located on the Red Sea with a foothold on the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.