Former Ethiopian Olympic and long distance runners Haile Gebrselassie and Feyisa Lilesa say they are ready to go to the front line in the war against rebel forces.
Their shocking announcement comes after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said he would go to the front to lead the war. Tigrayan rebels have since given indications that they are advancing towards the capital Addis Ababa. Germany and France have become the latest countries to advise their citizens to leave Ethiopia, amid an escalation in the civil war.
48 year old Gebrselassie, was quoted by state television as saying that Mr Abiy's decision to go to battle was "expected from a leader who loves his country."
"I am ready to do whatever is required of me, including going to the front line," he said.
On Tuesday November 23rd 2021, US envoy to the region Jeffrey Feltman warned that tentative diplomatic progress towards ending the conflict was being jeopardised by alarming developments on the ground. The rebels earlier this week said that they had taken control of Shewa Robit, a town about 225km north-east of Addis Ababa However there is no independent confirmation of the claim.
With Mr Abiy gone to direct the war effort, his deputy, Demeke Mekonnen Hasse, had taken charge of routine government business, a spokesman was quoted by state-linked media as saying.
Mr Abiy's announcement has bolstered recruitment for the army, with hundreds of new recruits attending a ceremony, marked by patriotic songs, in Addis Ababa today morning.
Gebrselassie is regarded as a legend in Ethiopia, and his comments were seen as an attempt to rally public support behind the war effort. During his 25-year career as an athlete, he claimed two Olympic gold medals, eight World Championship victories and set 27 world records. He announced his retirement from competitive running in 2015. Expressing his support for the war, 31 year old Feyisa was quoted by the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporation website as saying that Mr Abiy had made the "right decision" by saying he would go to the front line to face the rebels.
He added that he too was ready to draw inspiration from the "gallantry of my forefathers" and go to the front line to "save my country". The athlete won the marathon silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He became famous for holding up his crossed wrists as if they were shackled to draw global attention to the crackdown on demonstrators demanding political reforms in Ethiopia.
The war has created a massive humanitarian crisis, leaving thousands dead, forcing millions from their homes, and several hundred thousand in famine-like conditions as aid agencies battle to get food in war-affected areas. The African Union is leading efforts to find a negotiated end to the fighting, but neither side has committed to talks.