Ethiopian Prime Minister goes to the battlefield: State-related media | News

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has gone on to direct the war effort from the front lines, state-linked media reported.

Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen Hassen will take charge of the government’s regular business in the absence of Abiy, the Fana news outlet reported on Wednesday.

Government spokeswoman Legesse Tulu announced the transfer of regular duties at a press conference, Fana’s report said.

Abiy announced on Monday night that he intended to personally direct the fight against the Tigris forces and their allies.

“Let’s get together on the war front,” he wrote, “It’s time to drive the country sacrificially.”

Last month, Tigris forces and their allies threatened to march on the capital Addis Ababa; they have also fought hard to try to cut off a transport corridor that connects the main port of Djibouti in the Ethiopian region.

On Tuesday, U.S. special envoy Jeffrey Feltman said the Ethiopian military and regional militias were able to contain attempts to cut off the Tigris corridor, but that Tigris forces were able to move south toward Addis.

An Ethiopian military spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.

When the prime minister ordered a military offensive against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in November last year, tens of thousands were killed and hundreds of thousands starved to death since Abiy ruled the central government for decades. He took office in 2018.

Tigris forces continued to march on Addis Ababa, claiming control of the town of Shewa Robit 220 km (136 miles) northeast of the capital.

Much of northern Ethiopia is in the shadow of communications and access to journalists is limited, making it difficult to verify battlefield claims.

Army recruitment

Abiy’s comments have prompted the recruitment of armed forces.

At least one notable long-distance runner – marathoner and Olympic silver medalist Feyisa Lelisa – has joined thousands of ordinary Ethiopians who are eager to follow Abiy’s leadership.

World powers have sounded the alarm over a military escalation that could thwart efforts to channel the ceasefire as rebels are advancing on the capital Addis Ababa and foreign governments are telling them to side with their citizens.

Hundreds of new army recruits took part in a ceremony in their honor in Addis Ababa’s Kolfe district on Wednesday.

While officials were gathering sheep and oxen in trucks heading north, the recruits chanted patriotic songs and chants.

“I was shocked to hear that” in the area where Abiy intended to join the soldiers, one of the recruits, 42-year-old driver Tesfaye Sherefa, told AFP.

“When a leader leaves his chair … and his throne is to rescue his country. His focus is not on living, but on rescuing this country, and I sobbed as I said ‘follow me’ and went to the front line.”

Abiy announced Monday night his intention to “direct defensive forces” from the front, but officials and state media have not provided details about his moves since.

However, Kolf’s recruiters remembered his statement, wearing a photograph of Abiy in uniform and wearing T-shirts that said “we have a historic responsibility to defend Ethiopia’s free name”.

“I feel proud and I’m with him,” another 25-year-old Esubalew Wale told AFP.

‘Great opportunity’

Feyisa, a long-distance runner, told state media that the progress of the rebels had been a “great opportunity” to defend the country.

The marathoner gained political prominence by raising his arms and crossing his arms at the end of the marathon at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics – a gesture of solidarity with the ethnic Oromo who died in the nearly three decades of TPLF rule.

In a state media interview aired on Wednesday, Feyisa said he would like the opportunity to confront the TPLF itself.

“When they break a country, there’s no way I’m going to stand still,” he said.

A separate state media quoted Ethiopia’s most famous long-distance champion, Haile Gebreselassie, as saying he would also fight at the front.

But images of the interview were not broadcast and AFP was unable to independently verify them.