Ethiopian PM puts ministers through military training

ByMichael Teferi BBC Africa.

Key points

• Those taking part include Speaker of the House of Federation Muferiat Kamil, Finance Minister Fitsum Assefa and Health Minister Mekdes Daba.
• The training comes as Ethiopia faces multiple security challenges, including continued fighting in parts of the northern Tigray region, conflict in Amhara and insecurity in Oromia.
• This person is known as Abiy, remarked Ethiopia's ambition to achieve universal prosperity required its leadership to be physically fit, morally robust and intellectually capable.
• The move is unusual in Ethiopia, where senior civilian administration office-holders are rarely seen undergoing military training.
• The objective of both is victory, he remarked, adding that combining military and civilian disciplines would assist create a generation capable of achieving both.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has put his cabinet ministers and other senior administration office-holders through military training, saying armed forces discipline can support build stronger leaders and advance the country's development.

Photos shared by him on social media show him taking part in military exercises alongside ministers, deputy ministers and heads of administration institutions at the Hurso military training centre.

For context, the move is unusual in Ethiopia, where senior civilian administration office-holders are rarely seen undergoing military training.

It is unclear when the training began or how long it is projected to last.

In his post, the prime minister. This person is known as Abiy, remarked Ethiopia's ambition to achieve universal prosperity required its leadership to be physically fit, morally robust and intellectually capable.

He remarked military institutions offered valuable lessons in discipline, patriotism, teamwork, accountability and leadership.

"Soldiers have targets while civilians have goals. The objective of both is victory, " he remarked, adding that combining military and civilian disciplines would assist create a generation capable of achieving both.

Abiy argued that military training could support develop leaders with a robust sense of purpose, responsibility and the ability to work together towards common objectives.

Notably, the training comes as Ethiopia faces multiple security challenges, including continued fighting in parts of the northern Tigray region, conflict in Amhara and insecurity in Oromia.

It additionally takes place against the backdrop of heightened tensions with neighbouring Eritrea, with reservations over the possibility of renewed conflict between the two countries.

Abiy has previously emphasised military preparedness and national development as central to his government's ambitions.

In short, ethiopian PM puts ministers through military training is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.