Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has gone to the front lines to lead his troops in the battle against forces from the northern Tigray region in a campaign to "save Ethiopia," according to state-affiliated media.
Abiy tweeted, "The time has come to lead the country with sacrifice. Those who want to be among the Ethiopian children who will be hailed by history, rise up for your country today. Let's meet at the battlefront." Abiy's comments appeared to have boosted recruitment for the beleagured armed forces.
Mustafa Ali, cofounder and chairman of Horn International Institute for Strategic Studies, said Abiy's decision to move to the war front was a "big gamble." He said, "Aby is risking his life and he's also risking the lives of those who are going to be alongside himself."
Much of northern Ethiopia is under a communications blackout and access for journalists is restricted, making battlefield claims difficult to corroborate.
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