Abebaw was promoted to a full General in January 2021. Abebaw retired from ENDF in 2014 with the rank of  Lieut. General. He was recalled back by PM Abiy Ahmed, along with Lieut. General Bacha Debele, soon after the beginning of the Tigray war in November 2020. Prior to his retirement in 2014, Abebaw was the head of Central Command. He was also the commander of the 108th Corps during the Ethio-Eritrean war.