Ethiopia’s Prime Minister vows to lead army ‘from battlefront’

Ethiopia’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning prime minister says he will lead his country’s army “from the battlefront” starting Tuesday.

Tens of thousands of people are estimated to have been killed as Ethiopian and allied forces fight against forces from the country’s northern region, who dominated the national government before Abiy Ahmed took office.

The statement by the 45-year-old prime minister, a former soldier, did not say where exactly he will go Tuesday.

Abiy’s comments came as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front rebel group continued to press towards Addis Ababa and following a meeting of the ruling Prosperity Party’s executive committee to discuss the war.

Defence Minister Abraham Belay said security forces would embark on a “different action”, without providing details.