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By Staff Reporter
October 19, 2020 (Ezega.com) – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed his full confidence in the ability of Ethiopian security forces to defend territorial integrity, protect the nation from insurgency and thwart terrorist attacks.
The prime minister’s speech followed serial comments, mainly from opposition forces, that the nation is approaching disintegration due to religious and ethnic attacks that the government was unable to stop.
“The prime minister’s speech was so maddening,” a member of the Amhara ethnic group, whose relatives were killed in the recent attacks in the Metekel area of the Benishangul-Gumuz region, in western Ethiopia, told Ezega.com on condition of anonymity. At least 150 ethnic Amhara, Agew and Shinasha people have been killed since last September due to the ethnic crisis in the area.
The government began arming some members of those ethnic groups since last Friday, after government security forces failed to defend civilians from impending attacks allegedly involving members of regional officials.
“The government has created a strong security force that can defend the nation from any possible attack after it carried out rigorous security reform over the past two years,” Abiy told MPs.
He said the security forces have succeeded in thwarting planned attacks on religious and traditional celebrations held in Addis Ababa last September.
“We did the reform to deter vulnerability to external attacks. Consequently, there is nothing that threatens the sovereignty of the country considering the capacity of the country’s security forces ”. Abiy said
When asked about the recurring security challenges in the regional state of Benishangul-Gumuz, the prime minister said the attacks were complicated and orchestrated by anti-peace elements at home and abroad.
When asked about the ongoing bitter relationship between the federal government and the regional state of Tigray, Abiy said that the problem will be resolved legally and in accordance with a decision approved by the Federation Chamber on the basis of the constitution and other related laws.
Speaking on economic issues, Abiy said that Ethiopia has reported economic growth of 6.1 percent during its last fiscal year that ended on July 8, 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.
He said the agriculture, industry and services sectors are among the fastest growing sectors, registering growth of 4.3, 9 and 5.3 percent, respectively.
According to the prime minister, the country’s per capita income has reached $ 1000 while its GDP has reached $ 107.4 billion.
Abiy further said that after the change of the birr notes, the number of citizens with savings accounts has increased from 37.8 million to 50.7 million, which will have a positive impact on increasing the capacity of financial institutions to grant investment loans.
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