Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed Orders Cabinet Into Military Training

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Orders Ethiopian Cabinet Into Military Training

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia ordered his cabinet ministers and high-ranking government officials to undergo intensive military training at the Hurso military training centre, as security threats and regional tensions escalate across the East African nation, nos.nl reported. Photographs shared on social media by the prime minister depict him participating in physical exercises, including push-ups, alongside various ministers, deputy ministers, and institutional heads.

The military drills feature attendees such as House of Federation Speaker Muferiat Kamil, Health Minister Mekdes Daba, and Finance Minister Fitsum Assefa. The exact commencement date and expected duration of the training program have not been publicly disclosed.

Physical Fitness and Military Discipline for State Leadership

In messages related to the program, Prime Minister Abiy remarked that fulfilling Ethiopia’s objective of universal prosperity calls for officials who are intellectually capable, morally strong, and physically fit. He characterized military institutions as sources of instruction in discipline, patriotism, teamwork, accountability, and leadership practices.

The move is highly unusual within Ethiopia’s political framework. Senior civilian government officials in the country typically do not participate in formal military training programs. By integrating military and civilian discipline, the administration aims to develop leaders equipped to achieve both civilian governance goals and broader national objectives.

Regional Conflicts and Elevated Tensions With Eritrea

The cabinet’s deployment to military training coincides with multiple severe security challenges facing the country of 130 million people. Diverse armed groups are actively fighting for greater autonomy or independence against the regency and national army. Active conflicts persist in the northern Tigray region, where a devastating civil war raged between 2020 and 2022, alongside ongoing violence in the Amhara region and security concerns in Oromia.

Simultaneously, diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea have deteriorated. The two nations recently severed diplomatic ties, triggering widespread international concern over the possibility of renewed warfare. Prime Minister Abiy previously signed a peace agreement with president Afwerki of Eritrea in 2018, an accord that earned the Ethiopian leader the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019. Following the Tigray conflict, which resulted in one hundred thousand deaths, the Nobel committee’s decision faced severe public criticism and accusations from United Nations human rights experts regarding alleged war crimes, assertions that the Ethiopian government rejected.