Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed Joins Ministers in Military Training

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has put cabinet ministers and other senior government officials through military training, and he took part in the exercises himself.

According to the BBC, the training took place at the Hurso military training centre. Abiy joined ministers, deputy ministers and heads of government institutions in the drills. Among those who took part were Muferiat Kamil, speaker of the House of Federation, Finance Minister Fitsum Assefa and Health Minister Mekdes Daba.

Abiy said Ethiopia's ambition to achieve universal prosperity required leaders to be physically fit, morally strong and intellectually capable. He said military institutions offered lessons in discipline, patriotism, teamwork, accountability and leadership. He also said the training could help develop leaders with a strong sense of purpose, responsibility and the ability to work together.

"Soldiers have targets while civilians have goals. The objective of both is victory," Abiy said.

The training comes as Ethiopia faces continued fighting in parts of the northern Tigray region, conflict in the Amhara region and insecurity in Oromia. It also takes place amid heightened tensions with neighbouring Eritrea, with concerns over possible renewed conflict between the two countries.