Ethiopians prepare for the “Save the Homeland” battle, and men and women are moving forward | world News

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We climbed the stairs at a community center in Addis Ababa and were offered a seat in what appeared to be a noisy gathering.

There were women wearing flags and dancing in the front of the hall and a hundred or so people shouting and applauding in time to the music.

There was something unusual about this lively spectacle as it had been so widely repeated in the last few days in the Ethiopian capital but smiles and catchy music obscured his earnest purpose.

Photo: Volunteers were ceremonially expelled

We were invited to a community farewell, an opportunity for the residents of Arada to thank and motivate 20 young men and women who were about to head to the front.

“I will serve my country, to avenge the blood of my brothers, and to protect my country and my family,” said a young man named Million Abraham, who was working on a construction site in the city.

He will be involved in the war that erupted last year, when tensions between the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, and leaders of the Tigray (Tigray People’s Liberation Front) region reached a boiling point.

Abiy sent troops to the area in November 2020, in response to attacks by the TPLF on a number of army camps. The prime minister described it as a “police operation” and promised a quick victory, but the TPLF fighters pushed the Ethiopian forces back.

Forming an alliance with other rebel groups, the TPLF moved into neighboring districts and is now threatening the capital itself, recently capturing a town 220 kilometers (136 miles) northeast of the capital.

Photo: Million Abraham (front) told Sky News he is not “afraid” to join the war effort

The facts of this conflict became known in Arada and we heard a local mosque leader say he was ready to go and fight.

After that, a member of the local government warned the public about spies and saboteurs.

“You shouldn’t trust your shadow at a time like this,” she said softly.

There is a widespread view in Addis Ababa that the international community is on the side of the TTL Liberation Front, and we have heard that Western countries are angrily denounced on multiple occasions.

Photo: Community members gave crowd speeches during their farewell

Referring to the defeat of Mussolini’s forces, one man said, “We Ethiopians do not compromise. Forget America and other enemy countries. They will face the same fate. We will drag their bodies from our land like the Italians.” who were expelled from Ethiopia in 1941.

Millions Abraham, the builder, told us he’s not worried, despite the fact that he only had a few days of training.

“I am not afraid. We will have more training when we get to the front. I am not afraid to go there. Before we join them we will train. I am not afraid to go and even if I die, it is not a problem. It is for my country.”

“Is this country in a dangerous situation?” I asked.

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6:18 What’s going on in Ethiopia?

“I think the war will be over very soon,” he replied confidently, despite the fact that the government was struggling to stop the TPLF advance.

In what some see as a symbol of distress or despair, Abi Ahmed has told the nation via social media that he will move to the front, where he will lead the army himself.

The prime minister asked the Ethiopians to join him in what he described as the battle to “save the nation”.

Mr. Abraham seemed happy to do his duty and told me he was ready to pay the ultimate price.

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