ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday vowed to sustain ongoing reforms as the country's ruling coalition commenced its congress meeting.
Ethiopia's ruling coalition - Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), on Wednesday commenced the 11th congress in Hawassa city under the theme "National Unity for All Rounded Prosperity."
Ahmed, who revealed that the congress will deliberate on issues that sustain the achievements gained over the past few months in the socioeconomic and political areas, also stressed that reducing unemployment, enhancing production capacity, improving living standard of the people, and ensuring rule of law as the top priorities of the congress in its latest meeting, state news agency ENA reported.
The premier, who is also chairman of the ruling coalition, called on Ethiopians to collaborate for the success of the reform.
Ahmed stressed that the leadership should consider the people as the source of power so as to ensure the development of the country.
The coalition's 11th Congress is historical as it comes at a time when "we are into a course of change," state affiliated FBC quoted Ahmed as saying.
Ahmed further stressed that the ruling coalition will endeavor to sustain the reform by integrating young leaders with the experienced ones.
"If we want to pass a prosperous nation to the next generation, we should join hands regardless of race, ethnicity, and religion as well as avoid robbery and political sabotage," the PM said.
The ruling coalition's congress meeting came amid ethnic-based clashes that are currently challenging the east African country's recent positive developments.
On Tuesday, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) disclosed that more than 70,000 people have fled their homes due to communal violence in western Ethiopia's Benishangul Gumuz regional state.
Attacks late September also drove more than 15,000 people to flee and seek refuge in schools and other public facilities across Addis Ababa.
Amid the increasing conflicts, Ahmed had last week urged Ethiopians from all walks of life to maintain the long-standing peace and togetherness, so as to avoid misunderstanding that lead to conflicts.
EPRDF is a coalition of four parties that are Oromo Democratic party (OPD), the Amhara Democratic Party (ADP), the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement (SEPDM).
The EPRDF Council elected Ahmed as its new chairperson in March 2018, who eventually was appointed as Ethiopia's Prime Minister following the resignation of former PM Hailemariam Desalegn, who resigned following crippling strike in different parts of the country.
