ADDIS ABABA, Nov 23 (NNN-FBC) – Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, yesterday announced his decision to lead frontline combat, as of today, against rebel forces, amid expanding conflict in the northern part of the country.
Ahmed called on “all patriotic Ethiopians” to join him in frontline combat, against forces loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
“The time necessitates leading the nation through martyrdom. To this end, I will march to the battlefield from tomorrow (today) onwards, to lead our defence forces,” Ahmed said, in his call to the nation.
“All of you who aspire to be one of Ethiopia’s most admired children, stand up for your country and join me on the frontline,” he said in a statement, posted on social media late yesterday.
The conflict, which erupted on Nov 4 last year, in Ethiopia’s northernmost Tigray region, between forces loyal to the TPLF and the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF), has, over the past months, spread across neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions.
Over the past months, forces loyal to the rebel group TPLF, have advanced southward into the central parts of the East African country.
This was, eventually, followed by huge popular mobilisation, in the Amhara and Afar regions, as well as, other regional states in the country, to fight back the TPLF’s expansion.
Earlier this month, the Ethiopian House of People’s Representatives (HoPR), ratified a six-month state of emergency rule, to contain the rebel group’s advancement and to ensure the country’s peace and security.– NNN-FBC
