Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has gone to direct the war from the front lines, state-affiliated media have reported on Wednesday, as two Olympian athletes announced they were enlisting in the military.
The two Gold Olympian athletes, Haile Gebreselassie, who set 27 long-distance running records, and Olympic silver medalist runner Feyisa Lelisa both told the media they would be joining the army.
Abiy’s Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen Hassen is expected to take charge of routine government businesses while he is away, government spokesman Legesse Tulu has told a news conference.
Abiy had announced late on Monday he was planning to personally direct the fight against Tigrayan forces and their allies by challenging them “Let’s meet at the war front,” he wrote, “The time has come to lead the country with sacrifice.”
Ethiopian police have trained around 147,000 civilians in the capital to form neighbourhood defence groups and help detect possible infiltrators.
Former Nigerian president turned African Union envoy Olusegun Obasanjo, has been trying to broker a ceasefire between the two sides.
Switzerland and Britain have advised their citizens to leave Ethiopia, citing the worsening security situation, and France and the United State have already called on their citizens to leave.
