Nairobi, April 16 -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was last week pushing through his controversial policy of mopping up regional militia, part of his long-term plan to have a unified national professional army.

The Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) is already somewhat professional, with an established chain of command and adequate equipment. But the controversy is related to Abiy's call to demobilise all regional militia, some of which allied with the ENDF in the recent war in Tigray.

"This decision will be implemented.. for the sake of Ethiopia's... unity and for the people's peace," Abiy said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The strength of a country's army is determined by its centralisation and chain of command," Abiy added...