Ethiopian PM Abiy Says “Our Preparations Are Aimed at Guaranteeing Peace Across Africa”

Addis Ababa, February 22, 2026 (ENA) –Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, at the 65th Anniversary of Ethiopia’s Special Operations Command, underscored that Ethiopia’s defense build-up is designed to guarantee peace in East Africa and across the continent.

The anniversary celebration was held with grandeur at Hawassa International Stadium in Hawassa city, in the presence of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Prime Minister Abiy and senior military and government officials.

Addressing the gathering, PM Abiy reaffirmed Ethiopia’s unwavering commitment to peace, security, and prosperity throughout Africa.

 He emphasized that the country’s ongoing military preparations are pillars of stability intended to safeguard sovereignty and ensure regional harmony.

“Our preparations are aimed at guaranteeing peace across the entirety of Africa,” the Prime Minister declared.

He further stated, “We intend to stand as a pillar of support, a protector, and a shield for the nations of our region.”

Highlighting a significant strategic shift, the Prime Minister noted that Ethiopia has expanded its military training beyond land, mountainous terrain, and river operations to include maritime capabilities.

He described this transition as part of a broader national philosophy aimed at reclaiming Ethiopia’s connection to maritime access and redefining water not as a barrier, but as a source of life, development, and strategic opportunity.

He stressed that Ethiopia is overturning long-standing attitudes of distancing itself from water and is instead embracing it as a foundation for growth.

Citing riverside development initiatives, dam construction, and the integration of artificial intelligence technologies, the Prime Minister said the country is demonstrating that “water is life and water is development.”

Prime Minister Abiy also confirmed the establishment of a technologically advanced elite force equipped with drone reconnaissance systems and precision-strike capabilities, including loitering munitions.

The unit, he explained, is designed to secure strategic locations, neutralize emerging threats swiftly, and deter terrorism while protecting peaceful communities across the region.

According to the Prime Minister, Ethiopia’s mission extends beyond its borders, supporting “brotherly peoples from the tip of Somalia to the tip of Massawa,” with the objective of eliminating maritime terrorism and strengthening regional prosperity.

He further emphasized that these institutions are being built to prevent instability before it emerges and, if necessary, to conclude conflicts decisively and efficiently.

Referring to Ethiopia’s defense forces, which have earned international recognition through peacekeeping missions abroad, he described them as disciplined, technologically empowered, and ready to uphold national sovereignty.

The newly established elite force has been characterized as worthy of the “Red Beret” distinction, a force prepared to defend the honor of the flag, the dignity of the nation, and Ethiopia’s independence with intellectual rigor and physical excellence.

Concluding his address, Prime Minister Abiy reaffirmed that Ethiopia’s defense force remains a reliable guarantor of national independence and African peace, today as it has been in the past.

“Congratulations to all East African nations and to Africa as a whole,” he declared. “Together, we advance toward a future of security, unity, and shared prosperity.”