Addis Ababa: Ethiopia must continue to assist East and Horn Africa regions in achieving peace, Former ATMIS Commander Major General Ndegeya Diomede has emphasized. Over the week, Ethiopia hosted the First African Defense Ministers Conference, attracting defense ministers, high-ranking military officials, and researchers from across the continent. Participants who visited various security institutions were impressed by the country's willingness to share its rich experience in the sector. Major General Ndegeya Diomede told Ethiopian News Agency that Ethiopia is now advancing in the Artificial Intelligence(AI) which certainly may benefit other African nations. As Africans, united we should, and we are eager to reach out and ask for your help in advancing AI, he said. Major General Diomede noted that 'So, you are welcome to assist. Please support our brothers in the Horn of Africa and the East African Standby Force in finding ways to overcome our security threats using artificial intelligence.' General Ndeg eya, who is a Senior Advisor to the Burundian Ministry of Defense, served as the Force Commander in the ATMIS that constituted our brothers from Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Burundi, and Uganda. He stated that AI can play a vital role in the fight against al-Shabaab and international terrorism. 'The role of Ethiopia in strengthening peace in Africa, especially in the Horn of Africa and East African region is very crucial. You are (Ethiopia) more developed than other troops and the task forces. So we have to spare others. You have to play the role. Traditionally, as you liberated Somalia from tribunal courts, I think you have to continue to help other Africans, East African and Horn Africa, how to get peace like Sudan, Somalia and others' Brigadier General Paul Njema, Director of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) on his part said that the Eastern African region is one of the areas facing many challenges, noting that Ethiopia has been playing a crucial role in ensuring peace and stability in the region, including Somalia. The brigadier general emphasized that Ethiopia continues playing a significant role, undertaking a mission that has involved substantial sacrifices to maintain peace and security in the region. For almost twenty years, he recalled that Ethiopia has made considerable sacrifices, including sending troops, offering military and intelligence support, and providing capacity-building assistance to help Somalia fight terrorism and restore its governance systems. The Eastern African region is currently facing many challenges. From the Somali Peninsula all the way to Mozambique and beyond, we have maritime concerns that need to be addressed-not just by neighboring or island nations, but by all of us, as these are our waters and critical trade routes, he elaborated. 'The troops contributing countries that are in Somalia are part and parcel of Eastern Africa, the Eastern African region, regional forces. Ethiopia continues to play a great role, and I've seen it continues to play its great role in t he region and also in Somalia. This is a mission that has sacrificed largely to ensure that peace in the region is stable'. Additionally, as one of our member states in the region, Sudan continues to face significant challenges, and we are all hoping for a swift resolution to the issues there, " he said. He added that in Sudan, we are facing challenges with many people fleeing and being internally displaced, and we hope for a return to normalcy so that individuals can return home. The participants underscored the importance of the conference, as it brought together African defense leaders responsible for maintaining their countries' security. Finally, the visits they made to various security institutions were inspirational to them to forge cooperation and experience in defense sector, commending Ethiopia's defense capabilities. Source: Ethiopian News Agency