Ethiopia’s PM pledges victory in video from front line (2024)

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has pledged victory, in what state-affiliated media said was his first message after heading to the front line this week to lead government troops in the year-long war against forces from the northern Tigray region.

State media reported on Wednesday that Abiy had arrived at the battlefront to lead a counter-offensive against the Tigrayan forces, handing over regular duties to his deputy.

In a video shown on Friday, the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize winner is seen walking with military personnel while wearing army fatigues.

“We won’t give in until we bury the enemy,” Abiy said in a recorded statement, adding that the army’s morale was high. “What we want to see is an Ethiopia that stands on our sacrifices – either to be Ethiopian or to be Ethiopia,” he added.

He added that the military had secured control of Kassagita and planned to recapture Chifra district and Burka town in Afar region, which neighbours Tigray.

“The enemy doesn’t have the standing to compete with us, we will win,” he said.

የምንፈልገው ወይ ኢትዮጵያዊ መሆን ወይም ኢትዮጵያ መሆን ነው:: pic.twitter.com/4OVCiXk5t2

— Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 (@AbiyAhmedAli) November 26, 2021

The footage was released after the government issued a new order aiming to restrict media reporting of the war, prohibiting the sharing of non-official information on “military-related movements, battlefront results and situations”.

‘No end in sight’

After months of tension, Abiy in November 2020 sent troops to Tigray to remove the region’s governing party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The TPLF dominated the federal government for nearly three decades until Abiy took office in 2018.

The prime minister promised a swift victory and government forces seized Tigray’s capital, Mekelle, in late November. By June, however, the Tigrayan forces had retaken most of the region and pushed into the neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions.

The Tigrayan forces recently reported major territorial gains, claiming this week to have seized a town just 220km (135 miles) from the capital, Addis Ababa. Much of northern Ethiopia is under a communications blackout and access for journalists is severely restricted, making battlefield claims difficult to verify.

Still, international alarm about the escalating conflict has deepened, with foreign countries urging their citizens to leave as mediation attempts by the United Nations and the United States have so far failed to yield any results.

“In terms of negotiation or ceasefire, there seems to be a growing distance between the two sides,” Samuel Getachew, an independent Ethiopian journalist in Addis Ababa, told Al Jazeera.

“With the conflict ongoing and impacting so many people, there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. There’s determination from both sides to win it 100 percent.”

Hunger crisis

The war has killed tens of thousands of people, forced more than two million people from their homes and exacted a huge humanitarian toll. On Friday, the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) said the number of people requiring food aid in the country’s north had surged to more than nine million.

Hundreds of thousands are on the brink of famine as aid workers struggle to deliver urgently-needed supplies to desperate populations in Tigray, Amhara and Afar.

The WFP said the situation had sharply deteriorated in recent months, with an estimated 9.4 million people facing hunger “as a direct result of ongoing conflict”, compared with approximately seven million in September.

“Amhara region – the front lines of the conflict in Ethiopia – has seen the largest jump in numbers with 3.7 million people now in urgent need of humanitarian aid,” WFP said.

“Of the people across northern Ethiopia in need of assistance, more than 80 percent (7.8 million) of them are behind battle lines.”

This week, aid workers were able to distribute food in the Amhara towns of Dessie and Kombolcha for the first time since they were captured by the TPLF nearly a month ago, the WFP said, adding that it was only granted access to its warehouses last week.

Fighting has also damaged more than 500 health facilities in Amhara, the UN’s humanitarian agency OCHA said late on Thursday.

As the war has dragged on, the government has stepped up its use of airpower against the Tigrayan forces – one of the areas where it enjoys a military advantage.

“Yet another drone attack on civilian neighborhood in #Mekelle,” TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda tweeted on Friday. “Desperate moves by a desperate regime teetering on the brink.”

On Friday, the TPLF and a hospital official reported two air raids in Tigray’s capital Mekelle.

Dr Hayelom Kebede, research director at Mekelle’s Ayder Referral Hospital, told the AFP news agency two bombings occurred at 9am and 12:30pm (06:00 and 09:30GMT), with the first one destroying two homes.

“Still waiting for the casualty report,” he said.

Sources told AFP the first attack struck close to the house of a rebel commander and near a hill with an anti-aircraft machine gun.

Abiy’s spokeswoman Billene Seyoum said she had “no information” about any drone attacks in Mekelle

Ethiopia’s PM pledges victory in video from front line (2024)

FAQs

Why was Ethiopia's victory in the first Italo Ethiopian War significant? ›

The Ethiopian army's victory checked Italy's attempt to build an empire in Africa. The victory had further significance for being the first crushing defeat of a European power by African forces during the colonial era.

What has the Ethiopian victory at Adwa guaranteed Ethiopia? ›

Mengesha Robso Wodajo

The Adwa victory guaranteed the political independence of Ethiopia and dignity of black people all over the world. Major colonial powers including Italy recognize the independence of Ethiopia.

How did the League of Nations help Ethiopia when Italy invaded Ethiopia? ›

In response to Ethiopian appeals, the League of Nations condemned the Italian invasion in 1935 and voted to impose economic sanctions on the aggressor. The sanctions remained ineffective because of general lack of support.

How did the Ethiopian government fall? ›

On 28 May 1991, Mengistu's government was overthrown by its own officials and a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), after their bid for a push on the capital Addis Ababa became successful.

What was most responsible for the Ethiopian victory? ›

Its victory was due to one man - Menelik II. He became emperor of Ethiopia in 1889. He successfully played Italians, French, and British against each other, all of whom were striving to bring Ethiopia into their spheres of influence.

Did Ethiopia win the war against Italy? ›

Ethiopia managed to defeat the invading Italian force led by Oreste Baratieri on Sunday, March 1, 1896 near the town of Adwa. The decisive victory thwarted the campaign of the Kingdom of Italy to expand its colonial empire in the Horn of Africa.

How did Ethiopia defeat Italy at the Battle of Adwa Quizlet? ›

was most responsible for the Ethiopian victory? Menelik II was the cause of their victory. He played Italy, France, and Britain all against each other. While this was happening, he gathered weapons from France and Russia and used these weapons to fend off the "invaders".

What were the consequences of the victory of Adwa? ›

The outcome of this battle ensured Ethiopia's independence, making it the only African country never to be colonised. Adwa turned Ethiopia into a symbol of freedom for black people globally. It also led to a change of government in Italy.

What is the quote about Adwa victory? ›

Notable quotes “This country is mine & no other nation can have it” - response to Italians “When united, the victory is ours as many small pieces of Bark can conquer an elephant” “There was never a time when united that Ethiopians lost to an enemy in history” at Adwa!

How many Italians died in Ethiopia? ›

Total Italian casualties from 1935 to 1940 according to these calculations were about 208,000 killed or wounded. Based on 1,911 Italians killed in the first six months of 1940, Ministry of Africa figures for 6 May 1936 to 10 June 1940 are 8,284 men killed, which Sbacchi considered to be fairly accurate.

Why did Italy fail to colonize Ethiopia? ›

Italy, for its part, targeted Ethiopia. But when its troops attacked on March 1, 1896, near the town of Adwa, they were overpowered by a large and well-armed Ethiopian force. In winning this pivotal victory, Ethiopia not only secured its own independence, but also inspired the anti-colonialist movement.

Why did Ethiopia fight Europeans properly? ›

Ethiopia was able to be successful in resisting imperialism because they allied with other local kingdoms and with Russia, who supplied them with weaponry to defeat the Italian army at the Battle of Adwa.

When did Ethiopia become poor? ›

The famine in Ethiopia in 1984 served as the beginning of a country-wide famine that lasted for at least 20 years after the crisis itself.

What religion is in Ethiopia? ›

Religion in Ethiopia consists of a number of faiths. Among these mainly Abrahamic religions, the most numerous is Christianity (Ethiopian Orthodoxy, P'ent'ay, Roman Catholic) totaling at 67.3%, followed by Islam at 31.3%. There is also a longstanding but small Ethiopian Jewish community.

What is the problem in Ethiopia in 2024? ›

In 2024, most communities in Ethiopia's northern, southern and southeastern regions are projected to face emergency or worse (IPC 4 and 5) levels of food insecurity. At IPC 4, households face extreme food shortages and the risk of hunger-related death rapidly increases.

What happened after the First Italo-Ethiopian War? ›

Riots broke out in several Italian cities, and within two weeks the Crispi government collapsed amidst Italian disenchantment with "foreign adventures." Menelik secured the Treaty of Addis Ababa (1902) in October, strictly delineating the borders of Eritrea and forcing Italy to recognize the independence of Ethiopia.

How did the Ethiopians defeat the stronger Italian army? ›

In December 1895 and January 1896, the Ethiopian army annihilated a vanguard Italian column at Amba Alage and then besieged an Italian fort at Mekele, forcing its surrender in large part by implementing Taytu's strategy of cutting off the water supply.

Why was Ethiopia successful in its resistance? ›

Ethiopia was able to be successful in resisting imperialism because they allied with other local kingdoms and with Russia, who supplied them with weaponry to defeat the Italian army at the Battle of Adwa.

Which of the following best describes why Ethiopia's resistance to Italian imperialism was successful? ›

Explanation: The success of Ethiopia's resistance to Italian imperialism can largely be attributed to its unique strategies, international support, and the patriotic determination of its people. Ethiopia, under emperor Menelik II, built a large arsenal of modern weaponry which was bought from various European nations.

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