The Ethiopian National Defense Force (NDF) is now in a strong position to protect the country from any threat and maintain its sovereignty, said Chief of General Staff Field Marshal Berhanu Jula.
He added that the NDF is armed with modern technology and equipped with military science and art. The official further elaborated that the army is now able to save Ethiopia from any destructive force, being the last stronghold of the East African nation's sovereignty.
The country's military chief delivered his speech at the graduation ceremony of the 41st round Zobel Course commandos and Anti-terrorist Special Force members.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who presided over the graduation ceremony, congratulated the graduates for successfully completing the rigorous training provided by the center. He highlighted that the country's largest elite forces will sustain and pass on to future generations "a resilient and great Ethiopia."
"I am honored to preside over the graduation ceremony of Ethiopia’s largest elite force this morning. This force is tasked with the dual objectives of stopping battles from occurring and if pushed into one, then finishing ones that have been started. Our elite forces will sustain and handover to coming generations a resilient and great Ethiopia," he said.
To mark the occasion, the trainees demonstrated their acquired skills in a large-scale mock exercise.
As part of the activities, the Ethiopian leader also inspected and opened an amphitheater built by the training center with a capacity of thousands of seats. He also planted seedlings at the Bilate Center as part of the country's Green Legacy initiative.
According to the prime minister, Ethiopia's defense force has made great sacrifices to ensure stability and peace in the country. Ahmed urged the graduates to always be ready to put their country and their people first.
"Ethiopia is a country that believes in the principles of negotiation, consultation and respect in everything it needs [...]. Ethiopia is a country that has dignity, culture, loves others and stands for peace," he underscored.
The leader stated that Ethiopia's main desire is peace, adding that this is not limited to internal affairs but also refers to peacekeeping activities in other countries. He pointed out that Ethiopia has built a peacekeeping force that can effectively be a guarantor of stability and security in the region.