The Norwegian-Ethiopian navy cooperation started when Emperor Haile Selassie met with King Haakon in London during World War II and Norway agreed to assist in the construction of the Ethiopian navy.
Retired Captain Marsha Girmaand Commander Tesfaye Tadesse
Officers from the Norwegian Navy helped organise Ethiopia’s newly created navy and moreover coordinated training of Ethiopian Navy Officers. Ethiopian navy officers were trained on board Norwegian ships in the 1950’s and graduated in Norway.
Retired Captain Marsha Girma, now Board Chairman of the Former Ethiopian Navy Military and Civilian Welfare Association, remember his time in Norway in 1952 very well. He came in a group of around 16 Ethiopians, which trained in Norway for a year. Around 50-60 Ethiopians were trained in Norway during this time.
- Norway has a great coastline and wonderful friendly people. We used to spend our weekends in their homes, Captain Marsha says. - Imagine, when we arrived in Norway to train, we came from 40 degrees in Ethiopia to minus degrees there, it was quite a shock! Sailing from Oslo to Svalbard was also one of the best experiences during my training.
Commander Tesfaye Tadesse, also an active member of Association, specialised in nautical science and power engineering, training in the US and France. The Commander is currently working for the US Embassy in Addis Ababa and is an active participant of the Association.
The Former Ethiopian Navy Military and Civilian Personnel Association has 400 members, and launched a book project in 2007. The history book “Ethiopia – Its Sea Coast and Its Navy” is also published in an edited English version.
Emperor Haile Selassie inspecting a Guard of Honour from the Ethiopian Navy together with Norwegian Navy personell. Photo: Former Ethiopian Navy Military and Civilian Welfare AssociationThe Ethiopian Navy existed from 1955 to 1991, when it culminated due to losing it coast line to Eritrea. The navy college, which had been in Massawa where the Norwegian officers came to assist and train the navy in the 1950’s, was then moved to Asmara, and operated until the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea broke out in 1998. According to the members of the Welfare Association most of the Ethiopian Navy members preferred to join in the rebuilding of their nations and few sought refuge in various countries in the world.