Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Sunday vowed to dissolve and reintegrate regional forces established by some states, reported The Addis Standard.
He warned that the government will take appropriate law enforcement measures on those who are deliberately playing a distractive role against its implementations.
Prime Minister Abiy’s statement came just a day after General Abebaw Tadesse, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) told reporters that the government’s decision to dissolve regional special forces was not aimed at disarming or dismantling them, but to reorganize and to reform the forces where they can better serve the country.
The move, which was first announced on Thursday, aims to integrate such forces, which were set up unilaterally by some states, into the federal army, regional police, or civilian life. there have been ongoing protests in several cities and towns of the Amhara region after the announcement was made.
In a lengthy four pages statement published on social media, PM Abiy explained that the decision was discussed amongst leaders and members of regional Special Forces. He said the members of the dissolved Special Forces will be given three options to join the Defense forces, the Federal Police, or the Regional Police.
“Most regions do not have the economic capacity to manage an army,” the Ethiopian prime minister said.
He added that almost all regions use the federal government’s budget for their special forces. He said arrangements have also been put in place with directions that the regional states will now only strengthen their police forces and focus only on preventing crime and maintaining local peace.
Abiy said that competition among regional states should not be based on building special forces but on economic, social development, and democratic culture.
He called on all the relevant institutions and Ethiopians to come together and cooperate with the implementation of the decision, taking into account the national significance and the lasting benefit it will bring.
