CISM and African Military Sports leaders strengthen cooperation during official visit to Ethiopia

ADDIS-ABEBA (ETH) – The President of the International Military Sports Council (CISM), Colonel Nilton Gomes Rolim Filho, together with the CISM Vice-President for Africa and President of the African Military Sports Organization (OSMA), Major General Abdullahi Maikano, and the CISM Secretary General, Navy Captain Roberto Recchia, carried out a three-day official working visit to Ethiopia aimed at strengthening cooperation in military sport at both continental and global levels.

As part of the visit, the delegation was received by the Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian Armed Forces, Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, at his office in Addis Ababa. The meeting focused on Ethiopia’s growing role in African military sport and on the development of the Defence Forces Sports Club as a competitive institution capable of participating in and hosting major military sports events.

During the discussions, Field Marshal Berhanu Jula expressed Ethiopia’s interest in hosting future African and World Military Sports competitions and proposed a visit to key sports infrastructures to assess their capacity. The CISM and OSMA leaders welcomed these initiatives and exchanged views with Ethiopian military authorities on long-term cooperation, capacity building, and the promotion of sport as a tool for friendship and international military partnership.

The delegation subsequently visited Addis Ababa Stadium, accompanied by representatives of local sports institutions. Colonel Rolim Filho highlighted the stadium’s strong potential to host major international competitions, noting that it offers facilities for multiple sports, including swimming, and is not limited to football activities. He congratulated the Ethiopian authorities on the quality of the infrastructure and described the stadium as impressive and well suited for multi-sport events.

During the visit, the CISM President also welcomed Ethiopia’s membership within CISM and confirmed that Ethiopian athletes would participate in the upcoming CISM World Military Cross Country Championship in Greece, marking another step in the country’s integration into the international military sports community.

Brigadier General Nuru Muzein, Executive Director of the Mekelle Sports Club, emphasized the importance of the visit and underlined Ethiopia’s ambitions to host major sporting events in the future, including continental competitions. He stated that the international military sports leaders gained a comprehensive understanding of Ethiopia’s sports development efforts and the contribution of its military sports structures at national and regional levels.

The visit concluded with a symbolic exchange of gifts during the meeting with Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, reflecting the mutual respect and the strengthening partnership between Ethiopia, CISM and OSMA. According to Ethiopian defense media, the visit successfully met its objectives and laid the groundwork for deeper cooperation in the field of military sport.

(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department & Ethiopian Delegation to CISM)