In the midst of the war in northern Ethiopia, Olympic medalist Haile Gebrselassie, 48, pledged to fight rebel forces in Tigre.
“What would you do when the existence of a country is at stake?” he told Reuters news agency from his office in the capital Addis Ababa, where he runs several reception, real estate, agricultural and educational companies. “You let it all go. Unfortunately, nothing is going to hold you back.”
The crisis in the African country has been worsening as the conflict between the Ethiopian government, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and the TPLF (Tiger People’s Liberation Front) has already completed a year.
A UN study released on Friday (26) pointed out that more than 9 million people in the northern region of the country currently need food aid. Malnutrition is also on the rise and affects between 16% and 28% of children, and around 50% of pregnant and lactating women are malnourished in Tigre.
Faced with this scenario, the prime minister, who has already been awarded a Nobel Peace Prize, stated that he would lead the war from the front, which motivated Gebrselassie’s willingness to go to the conflict.
The Ethiopian has had quite a career in athletics. He took the gold medal in the 10,000 meters at the Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000) Olympics and broke 17 world records. As a marathon runner, he was four-time champion in Berlin, one of the most important races of the modality, from 2006 to 2009. In the German capital, he reached the best mark ever recorded in 42.195 km, in 2007 and 2008.
The athlete said he believes the sport is about “peace and love”, but defended his decision to fight the rebels, who last month threatened to march to the capital Addis Ababa. For him, the conflict is a threat to the whole of Africa.
“Ethiopia is a country that has contributed a lot to the entire continent,” he defended. “Yes, it’s an exemplary country. Bringing Ethiopia to its knees and bringing the rest to its knees. That’s impossible.” Gebrselassie also stated that he would go all the way. “Do you expect me to say to the death? Yes, that’s the ultimate price in a war.”
UNDERSTAND THE CONFLICT
The conflict in the Tigre region between government forces and the TPLF started a year ago and has unleashed a wave of internally displaced people, in addition to the deterioration of the economic and social crises. Over the period, an estimated 2 million people left their homes.
The country’s government, also criticized by the international community, declared a six-month national state of emergency in early November. The prime minister urged the population to take up arms to defend the country against the advancing TPLF, and tens of thousands took to the streets of Addis Ababa to support the government and criticize outside interference, especially from the United States.
Tension also builds on the battlefield. Images released by state media show Ahmed wearing a military uniform on the front lines with the army.
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