Scholar–practitioner · Addis Ababa

Parliaments, IGAD and Defence in the Horn of Africa

I advise legislatures, regional institutions and defence establishments on how institutions work, and how they can work better for peace and security in the region.

Portrait of Dr. Kaleab Tadesse Sigatu
Dr. Kaleab Tadesse Sigatu ዶ.ር ቃለአብ ታደሰ ሥጋቱ
Assistant Professor Ethiopian National Defence College
Founder & Director BRIDGE Research & Innovation
PhD, Military Science Ludovika University of Public Service, Budapest
Secretary Ethiopian Political Science & IR Association

Areas of expertise

Three fields, one question: how institutions keep the peace

Parliaments oversee the security sector, IGAD mediates between states, and defence forces carry out policy. I work across all three, so my advice connects the politics, the institutions and the security realities.

Legislators in a parliamentary chamber
01

Parliaments in Ethiopia and IGAD member states

Federal, regional and city legislatures: induction, committee work, oversight, women legislators and parliamentary diplomacy.

Track record

  • MOU with the FDRE House of Peoples' Representatives for research and training
  • Legislative Induction Course (ToT) with UN Women
  • Cyber security and disinformation training for 7th-term MPs with Meta and INSA
  • Research on Ethiopia's 19 legislative institutions
Regional leaders at an IGAD meeting
02

IGAD work and systems

IGAD's history, institutions, mediation role and the political economy of conflict among its member states.

Track record

  • Lead on BRIDGE's IGAD 40th anniversary handbook
  • "IGAD at a Crossroads", OASIS journal
  • Research on the political economy of conflict in East Africa
Military education and defence cooperation
03

Military and defence

Civil–military relations, defence diplomacy, peacekeeping, defence policy and strategy, and professional military education.

Track record

  • PhD on Ethiopian peace support operations in the Horn of Africa
  • Teaches National Security Policy and Strategy to senior officials
  • Organizing committee, AfroISME (military ethics in Africa)

How I can help

Consulting services

Briefings and policy advice

Confidential briefings for parliaments, ministries, embassies and development partners on the Horn of Africa.

Training and curriculum design

Induction courses for legislators and staff, and courses for military, police and diplomatic colleges.

Research and assessments

Institutional assessments, baseline studies and evaluations for donors and public institutions.

Strategy and policy review

Support in drafting and reviewing defence, security and regional cooperation policies and strategies.

Selected work

Publications

  • Book

    ሕገ መንግሥት በኢትዮጵያ፡ ከፍትሐ ነገሥት እስከ ኢፌዲሪ

    Constitution in Ethiopia: from Fetha Negest to FDRE · [PUBLISHER, YEAR]

  • Forthcoming book

    ወታደራዊ ኃይል እንደ የውጭ ፖሊሲ መሣሪያ

    Amharic edition of the PhD dissertation "Military Power as Foreign Policy Instrument: post-1991 Ethiopian Peace Support Operations in the Horn of Africa"

  • Journal article

    IGAD at a Crossroads

    OASIS, Universidad Externado de Colombia · [YEAR / STATUS]

  • Article

    Military Education in Ethiopia and its Role in Peace and Conflict Prevention

    [JOURNAL, YEAR / STATUS]

  • Article

    The Political Economy of Conflict in East Africa and the Role of IGAD

    [JOURNAL, YEAR / STATUS]

Teaching

Educating senior security leaders

At the Ethiopian National Defence College I teach National Security Policy and Strategy to senior security officials.

Dr. Kaleab teaching at the Ethiopian National Defence College

Chapter

Concepts and theories of national security policy and strategy

Chapter

Strategic environments, threats and opportunities

In development

International Humanitarian Law short courses for defence and police colleges

Institution

BRIDGE Research & Innovation

The Addis Ababa think tank I founded and direct, specialising in Ethiopian parliaments and IGAD. Larger engagements are delivered through BRIDGE's research and training team.

Visit bridge-et.org

Contact

Discuss an engagement

For briefings, training, research or speaking invitations, write to me directly.

kaleab.sigatu@bridge-et.org

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia · [LINKEDIN] · [GOOGLE SCHOLAR / ORCID]