Ethiopian army is better prepared than ever before, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, the Chief of General Staff of the Ethiopian Armed Forces, said during an officers’ graduation ceremony, adding that boosting the defense forces' leadership role will help establish an army that loves the country and its people, the government media reported.
"We have strengthened ourselves more than ever and are ready to fight any attack from any side," he said, as cited by the media.
Furthermore, Lt. Col. Yimer Mekonnen, the head of Defense Education and Training Department, said the army is consistently improving its skills. Moreover, the suitable training facilities are under construction, the official said.
He added that the army has defined a clear training path and has strengthened the production of qualified, disciplined soldiers.
The Commander of the Ethiopian Military Academy, Brigadier General Temeseng Abose, in his turn, urged the graduates to use the knowledge they gained from the academy to serve their country.
The graduates reportedly said they are willing to safeguard the country and are ready to fulfill the duties, which is especially important given the current situation in the country.
This week, the Ethiopian parliament's lower house extended for another four months a state of emergency in the northern region of Amhara, where clashes erupted last August between the regional Fano militia and the country's armed forces, the media reported.