Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed puts ministers through military training amid security tensions
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has joined cabinet ministers and senior government officials in military training as the country faces growing security challenges.
The unusual exercise took place at the Hurso military training centre, where civilian leaders participated in activities normally associated with the armed forces.
Photographs shared by Abiy on social media show the prime minister alongside ministers, deputy ministers and senior officials wearing military uniforms.
According to the BBC, the training comes amid continued fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigray and Amhara regions, insecurity in Oromia and heightened tensions with neighbouring Eritrea.
Abiy Ahmed says military training builds stronger leaders
Abiy said the training aims to strengthen discipline, leadership and teamwork among senior government officials.
He argued that Ethiopia’s development ambitions require leaders who are physically fit, morally strong and intellectually capable.
The prime minister also highlighted the importance of accountability, patriotism and cooperation.
He believes military institutions can teach valuable lessons that apply beyond the armed forces.
“Soldiers have targets while civilians have goals. The objective of both is victory,” Abiy said.
He added that combining military and civilian approaches could help develop leaders capable of achieving national objectives.
The prime minister presented the exercise as part of his broader vision for Ethiopia’s development.
However, the government has not publicly clarified how long the training will last.
It also remains unclear when the programme began.
Ethiopian ministers join military exercises
Several prominent government officials participated in the training.
They include Muferiat Kamil, Speaker of the House of Federation, Finance Minister Fitsum Assefa and Health Minister Mekdes Daba.
Other ministers, deputy ministers and heads of government institutions also took part.
Images released by Abiy show officials participating in military activities at the Hurso training centre.
Such exercises are unusual for Ethiopia’s civilian political leadership.
Senior officials typically oversee government departments and public institutions rather than participate in military training.
Nevertheless, Abiy has increasingly emphasised discipline, national preparedness and leadership development.
He argues that these qualities are important for Ethiopia’s long-term progress.
Military training comes amid Ethiopia’s security challenges
The training takes place during a period of continued instability in several parts of Ethiopia.
In the northern Tigray region, renewed fighting has raised concerns about the country’s fragile security situation.
The region experienced a devastating conflict between 2020 and 2022.
Although a peace agreement ended the main phase of that war, tensions and security problems have persisted.
Meanwhile, fighting continues in the Amhara region.
Insecurity in Oromia has also created additional challenges for the federal government.
These conflicts have placed pressure on Ethiopia’s security institutions and complicated efforts to restore stability.
Against this backdrop, Abiy’s decision to involve civilian officials in military training has attracted attention.
However, he has presented the programme as a leadership development exercise rather than announcing a new military deployment.
Ethiopia and Eritrea tensions raise concerns
Relations between Ethiopia and neighbouring Eritrea have also become increasingly strained.
Recent tensions have raised fears of another confrontation between the two countries.
Eritrea previously fought alongside Ethiopian federal forces during the Tigray war.
However, relations between the two governments have since deteriorated.
The BBC has reported renewed security concerns along the border and in parts of northern Ethiopia.
These developments have increased uncertainty in the wider Horn of Africa region.
Abiy has repeatedly highlighted the importance of military preparedness alongside national development.
Nevertheless, the government has not directly linked the ministers’ training programme to preparations for a specific conflict.
Abiy Ahmed links discipline to national development
The Ethiopian prime minister has made economic development and national transformation central themes of his leadership.
He believes stronger institutions and more effective leadership are essential to achieving those goals.
Through the military training programme, Abiy is seeking to promote discipline and cooperation among senior officials.
He has also argued that civilian and military institutions can learn from each other.
Yet Ethiopia continues to face major challenges, including armed conflicts, political tensions and economic pressures.
These problems remain important obstacles to the government’s development ambitions.
For now, the military training marks an unusual approach to preparing Ethiopia’s senior civilian leadership.
It also comes at a sensitive moment as the country confronts multiple security threats and regional tensions.