northern Ethiopia has been racked by conflict since November 2020 when Abiy sent troops into the Tigray region to topple the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) after months of tensions with the region’s governing party. The TPLF had controlled national politics for three decades until Abiy came to power in 2018.

Abiy promised a swift victory, but by late June the TPLF had regrouped and retaken most of Tigray, including its capital, Mekelle. Since then, the Tigrayan forces have pushed into the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions and this week claimed control of Shewa Robit, just 220km (135 miles) northeast of the capital, Addis Ababa, by road.

The Tigrayan forces and their allies have threatened to march on Addis Ababa. They have also been fighting fiercely to try to cut a transport corridor linking landlocked Ethiopia with the region’s main port, Djibouti.

On Tuesday, US Special Envoy Jeffrey Feltman said the Ethiopian military and regional militias had been able to hold back Tigrayan attempts to cut the corridor but Tigrayan forces had been able to move south towards Addis Ababa.

Much of northern Ethiopia is under a communications blackout and access for journalists is restricted, making battlefield claims difficult to corroborate.

Risking his life

Mustafa Ali, co-founder and chairman of Horn International Institute for Strategic Studies, said Abiy’s decision to move to the war front was a “big gamble”.

“Aby is risking his life and he’s also risking the lives of those who are going to be alongside himself,” Ali told Al Jazeera.

“The calculation here from Aby’s administration is because … that many armed grounds are converging around Addis Ababa, he sees it fit as part of a psychological operation to inspire other Ethiopians to join the [national army] and fight this war and push back the Tigrayans,” he said.

The prospect of the country breaking apart has alarmed both Ethiopians and observers who fear what would happen to the often turbulent region at large. Several countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Turkey have told their citizens to leave immediately.

“Ethiopia is a huge country; if it descends into anarchy then we are going have a huge problem of stability in the entire Horn of Africa,” Ali warned.

Where is our own beloved Buhari to lead Nigeria to a fight against terrorism??


Sir, we love you

Abiy’s comments appeared to have boosted recruitment for the beleaguered armed forces.

On Wednesday, hundreds of new army recruits took part in a ceremony held in their honour in the Kolfe district of Addis Ababa.

“I was amazed when I heard” Abiy planned to join soldiers in the field, one of the recruits, 42-year-old driver Tesfaye Sherefa, told AFP news agency.

“When a leader leaves his chair… and his throne it is to rescue his country. His focus is not to live, but to rescue this country, and I sobbed when he said ‘follow me’ and went to the front line.”

At least one prominent distance runner – marathoner and Olympic silver medallist Feyisa Lilesa – has joined thousands of ordinary Ethiopians keen to follow Abiy’s lead.

Feyisa, the distance runner, told state media the Tigrayans’ advance presented “a great opportunity” to defend the country.

The marathoner gained political prominence by raising and crossing his arms as he finished the marathon at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro – a gesture of solidarity with fellow ethnic Oromos killed while protesting against abuses committed during nearly 27 years of TPLF rule.

In the state media interview which aired Wednesday, Feyisa said he would relish the chance to fight the TPLF himself.

“When a country is violated, there is no way I will stand by and just watch,” he said.

A separate state media report quoted Ethiopia’s most famous distance-running champion, Haile Gebrselassie, as saying he, too, would fight at the front.

But footage of the interview did not air and it was not possible to independently verify it.

Like fulanis like Tigray people, you've ruled for 30 years and yet don't want to allow others

Can Ethiopia ever be the same after this war A country with one of the best airlines

I think for peace to reign, Tigray should be it's own country and Ethiopia it's own country.

War is really not a good thing

But we Biafrans go fight am with Nigeria if them no wan let us go

This is what is expected of Ipob warriors. Close in on Abuja, seize the seat of power and declare Biafra republic.

There would be no mistake of going through Ore- which was the downfall of biafra, the biggest tragedy of Ojukwu.



Al-turbani speaks!

The greed for power by tigray elites will soon ruin the lovely country.

IamSalt:
Where is our own beloved Buhari to lead Nigeria to a fight against terrorism??


Sir, we love you

He fought in war and won. Only in Nigeria will youths be calling the elderly to fight for them while they stay online and say garbage.

Tigray people r the worst...I just wish they will finish dem all I hate greedy people

vedaxcool:


He fought in war and won. Only in Nigeria will youths be calling the elderly to fight for them while they stay online and say garbage.

So the military and paramilitary officials fighting terrorists today in Nigeria are elderly??
I know you are a vibrant yoot who don't rant online, we need you to go and represent the youth sir.

Bubu is going to Sambisa tomorrow...

Signed...

Lie

Uhmm. Nigerians hope una dey learn. Injury left untreated will eventually take the whole body.

I don't want ipob to declare all out war on the Nigerian state...


They should just organize a resolute force well equipped and be taking down the Invaders in our land slowly..


No need for open confrontation,just a gorilla kind of fight..

A man with honour, We are waiting for our own commander in chief to do the same.

tutudesz:
Can Ethiopia ever be the same after this war A country with one of the best airlines

The fact that they have a booming airline doesn't makes them a developed country. Their unemployment is alarming and a greater percentage of the citizens lives below the minimum wage.

Nigerians should watch and pray.

[s]

IamSalt:



So the military and paramilitary officials fighting terrorists today in Nigeria are elderly??
I know you are a vibrant yoot who don't rant online, we need you to go and represent the youth sir.

[/s]

Lol you are the youth disgracing yourself online telling an elderly person to fight war to defend you while you idly sit and say rubbish.

That is a moral booster but our own bubu is somewhere hosting foreign women doing baba for the girls..

I can't believe how stupid African leaders behave, Abiy is drowning and holding onto straw, the scenario between Abiy and Tigray rebels is like a southern president taking over from Buhari and thinking you can push out Fulanis from the country in one swoop after the high level of nepotism so far put in place by Buhari without applying tact and diplomacy, when Buhari has entrenched them in all our security apparatus for the past 8 years.

Now imagine the amount of weapons currently in the hands of Fulani bandits alone who are non state actors and the official arms under the control of Army commanders of Fulani extraction, meanwhile Amina Mohammed a Fulani and member of CPC block of APC is the current deputy UN Sec General just like the Head of WHO Tedros is a key figure in Tigray party mobilising international support (just replace Fulani with Tigray to get the picture using Nigeria context.)

Obasanjo was able to deplete the officer core of the North to achieve a balance in the security agencies during his tenure by sacking all senior military officers that have held political appointment across board including Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa etc which didn't raise much eye brows, that's tactical leadership. Although the trend is now been reversed hurriedly by Buhari.

Recall that people like Buba Marwa was then just promoted to Brigadier General after serving as Lagos state military administrator, he was among the most ambitious and possibly disgruntled but Obasanjo waited until people like Marwa attended a conference abroad before making the announcement.

Abiy is just a young man without political sagacity, Obasanjo met with him last week, instead of seeking for elderly advice from a seasoned African leader like Obasanjo he is busy announcing going to fight in the war front, dem go kpai am like Idris Debby of Chad .

After Buhari nah dis bros...believe dem at your own peril.

IPOB pigs with meth damaged brain will relate this news with Buhari

[color=#006600][/color] buhari should do the same

While one mannequin like that just dey travel upandan while him soldiers dey die like fowls

K