By : East African Report / Addis Ababa, November 2, 2026
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has subjected cabinet ministers and senior government officials to military training, saying military discipline can help develop stronger leaders and advance national development.
Photographs shared by Ethiopia News Agency and the Prime Minister on social media show Abiy participating in military exercises alongside ministers, deputy ministers and heads of government institutions at the Hurso military training centre in eastern Ethiopia.
According to reports, among the officials taking part are Speaker of the House of Federation Muferiat Kamil, Finance Minister Fitsum Assefa and Health Minister Mekdes Daba.
Abiy, who was performing push-ups alongside his ministers in the photos, said military institutions can teach discipline, patriotism, teamwork and accountability — qualities needed to create leaders capable of achieving the country’s development ambitions.
The move is unusual in Ethiopia, where senior civilian government officials are rarely seen undergoing military training.
The Ethiopia News Agency report did not specify when the training began or how long it is expected to last.
The initiative comes at a critical time for Ethiopia, which is facing multiple security challenges:
1. Border Crisis: Kenya has intensified security patrols along the Kenya-Ethiopia border at Moyale after clashes between Oromo and Somali communities over a territorial dispute erupted on October 18, 2026. The UN estimates up to 50,000 Ethiopians have crossed into Kenya, with stray bullets hitting Sessi Mixed Secondary School in Kenya.
2. Tigray Conflict: The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) claimed on November 2 that its fighters killed 500 Ethiopian soldiers and wounded 800 others in clashes near the historic city of Aksum. The claims could not be independently verified.
3. Sudan Accusations: Sudan has submitted a complaint to the UN Security Council and African Union accusing Ethiopia of allowing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to launch drone attacks from Ethiopian soil — 70 attacks with 187 drones this year, killing or injuring nearly 500 people.
Abiy has previously emphasized military preparedness and described the program as “For Dual Success — Leadership with Dual Readiness,” calling for leaders who are physically strong, morally grounded and professionally competent.
