Speaking at the commemoration of the 116th National Army Day at Meskel Square today, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that Ethiopia will continue contributing peacekeepers around the world as part of its international responsibilities.
The Prime Minister praised the Ethiopian National Defense Force’s long history of sacrifice and service in conflict zones ranging from Korea to Darfur.
He also praised the noble sacrifices of the Ethiopian National Defense Force in the cause of global peace.
“Our defense forces are symbols of peace wherever they go,” the premier pointed out.
Ethiopia is among the top contributor of uniformed personnel to UN peacekeeping missions. The country has demonstrated steadfast dedication to promoting stability and security across Africa and beyond for over 70 years.
“The main purpose of defense is to maintain peace,” the Prime Minister said.
“The Ethiopian army has sacrificed life and limb to protect the peace of all peoples, from Korea to Somalia, regardless of the changing tides of politics.”
Ethiopian peacekeepers build schools, health clinics and infrastructure wherever deployed across Africa. “They are symbols of unity and harbingers of peace,” the Prime Minister noted.
Extolling the troops to modernize and read voraciously, the Prime Minister called on them to always be ready to serve, not just Ethiopia, but the continent and the world while in need.
Ethiopia’s contributions to peacekeeping go back over 70 years. Ethiopian soldiers fought alongside UN forces in the Korean War in 1951. Ethiopian troops also helped restore stability in the Congo in 1960.
According to UN, today, Ethiopia is the top contributor of peacekeeping forces globally, with over 8,300 personnel deployed in hotspots like Darfur, Abyei and South Sudan.
It is worth mentioning that once the UN Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix said “Ethiopia is one of UN peacekeeping’s strongest partners.”
Truly, Ethiopia has been a beacon of peacekeeping across the world’s conflict zones. Its long tradition of sacrifice and service in the cause of peace will inspire generations to come.
ENA
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