Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia Prime Minister - Courtesy

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on Thursday the army will continue to be a staunch force in the efforts to maintain national, regional and world peace.

During the commemoration of the 116th National Defense Day in Addis Ababa on Thursday, October 26, Abiy underscored that the army has always deterred several foreign aggressions and maintained the unity and sovereignty of the nation.

The Prime Minister reiterated the army’s readiness to ensure peace, and stability and defend the nation’s interests towards development and prosperity.

He pointed out that the commemoration of the army day helps the army to trace back its history which is full of gallantry and victory.

“Maintaining peace remains the top priority for the Ethiopian Defense Forces”, the Premier said. The Premier stressed: “Ethiopia has no any intention to seek incursion into any country; rather it will continue as a major peace force nationally, regionally and globally.”

“History proves and will continue to prove that Ethiopia will never give in to foreign aggressions. Ethiopia has helped African countries in their struggle against colonial powers, and Ethiopian soldiers paid sacrifices during several global peacekeeping missions to maintain world peace,” the Prime Minister pointed out.

“The army is a peace and development force that supports farmers in agricultural works and assists the community in building schools and health centres. This shows how the army continues to be a symbol of unity and peace,”

Dr. Abiy says the reform activities the ENDF has so far implemented have helped to realize a well-structured non-partisan military equipped with modern arms and technologies.

He also said the army is well equipped in the infantry, air force and cyber spheres which the premier said is crucial to effectively deter any threat.

Prime Minister congratulated the top military officers for realizing such a well-structured and well-equipped modern army.

“History proves that Ethiopia has never been defeated by any external force and has never invaded any country, and the army has never taken part in any unprovoked combat. Because safeguarding peace remains our top priority,” he said.

The Premier reiterated Ethiopia’s commitment to follow the path to a win-win approach based on mutual benefits of nations.

The army has thrived amid all the challenging circumstances, and will continue utilizing each situation to build up Ethiopia, the Premier underscored.

The National Army will continue to be a pride of Ethiopia and the greater East Africa at large by maintaining its commitment to safeguard peace and stability across the region, the Prime Minister remarked.

Saying that the time is full of uncertainty, the Prime Minister called on members of the army to pursue knowledge, become innovative and keep on standby for any mission in line with the changing circumstances.

“Ethiopia is a great nation. We are working to pass on a peaceful and prosperous nation to the generations to come,” the Prime Minister noted, calling all Ethiopians to stand in the union to this end.

Addressing thousands of soldiers in Addis Ababa Abiy said he would not invade any nation, in comments aimed at quelling neighbouring countries’ concerns that he might use force to secure access to a seaport.

Abiy told state media on Oct. 13 that Ethiopia should assert what he called the landlocked nation’s right to access the Red Sea as much as possible through peaceful means, raising tensions with regional governments and the spectre of a fresh conflict in the Horn of Africa.

Coastal Eritrea, which secured independence from Ethiopia in 1993 following a lengthy civil war, described recent commentary over the Red Sea as “excessive” and urged concerned parties not to be provoked, without directly addressing Abiy’s comments.

Both countries subsequently moved troops closer to their shared border, according to diplomats and humanitarians with knowledge of the movements, raising concerns of another conflict in a region already plagued by violence.