Abebaw Tadesse Asres
Abebaw Tadesse | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ethiopia |
| Occupation | Military general |
| Years active | –present |
| Known for | Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force |
Abebaw Tadesse () is a general in the Ethiopian military currently occupying the position of Deputy Chief of General Staff within the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), which is the second most senior role in the ENDF hierarchy, a role he has held since 12 November 2020.
Military career
Throughout his service, General Abebaw has commanded multiple units, including overseeing the Central Command prior to its transition to the Southern Command. He was significantly involved in combat operations on the Badme front during the Eritrean–Ethiopian War. Uniquely, he was the sole non-Tigrayan general serving under Meles Zenawi, representing the Agaw ethnic group. Following his retirement in 2018, he was summoned back into active duty amid the Tigray War by ENDF Commander-in-Chief Abiy Ahmed, who appointed him as Deputy Chief of General Staff. In January 2022, he announced intentions for Ethiopian forces to advance into the Tigray Region with a mission to "eliminate" Tigrayan fighters. That same month, he was honored with the Highest Blacklion Heroes Medal.