Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) conveyed a message of congratulations for the 85th Patriots' Victory Day. The full text of the Prime Minister's congratulatory message is presented as follows:

Congratulations on the 85th Heroic Patriots' Day.

May 5 is the holiday where heroic Ethiopian patriots repelled the fascist invasion and fully restored Ethiopia's sovereignty.

Patriotism is a selfless sacrifice paid for the country without a price. Its purpose is centered only on the country and the people. It yields nothing specific for the individual or a group, except for the citizen's share of the freedom, sovereignty, and honor gained for the country.

Our patriot mothers and fathers fought the fascists for the sake of the country and their people. To gain personal benefit, treason would have been a shortcut rather than patriotism. But they did not do it.

The patriotic struggle was waged against three enemies: self-interest, traitors, and the invading fascists. Patriotism is letting go of personal interest for the sake of the country's interest. Patriotism is sacrificing personal honor, personal power, and personal benefit. To accept this requires conquering oneself before the enemy.

Traitors are those who are unable to conquer themselves. When they fail to overcome personal gain and honor, they sell their country's honor and interest. Treason is a cloak of shame worn by selling the country for personal gain. Patriots struggled against traitors. On one hand, traitors tell them, "Sell your country and benefit personally like us." On the other hand, they lead the way and bring the invader upon them. When that fails, they rob the people's hearts with false rumors.

Even today, these three enemies exist. They have only changed their form and names. On the other hand, there are still Ethiopian patriots engaged in every field today. For Ethiopia's prosperity to be achieved, it requires national patriots—a patriotism that says "no" to self-interest, treason, and invaders.

We need industrial patriots, agricultural patriots, security patriots, political patriots, trade patriots, diplomacy patriots, civil servant patriots, medical patriots, educational patriots, etc.

We celebrate this holiday by evaluating our own level of patriotism. How patriotic are we for Ethiopia?

Even today, there are weak individuals overcome by personal desire. Those who wish to demolish the country to build a private house. Those who wish to break up the great ship to sell small canoes. Those who do not hesitate to bear shame for mere scraps.

Even today, there are invaders. In addition to those poised to invade the country physically, there are enemies called poverty, backwardness, and theft that invade and paralyze the country like invasive weeds. Equal to the traitors who sell the country to foreigners, there are traitors who sell the national interest for their personal gain. There are traitors who trade in services and public resources.

National patriotism means struggling and defeating these three enemies. The change and growth we see in Ethiopia today was made possible because national patriots exist in every area. Although national patriots are defeating the three enemies, they have not yet achieved complete victory.

The victory will be proclaimed like May 5 when Ethiopia becomes Africa's symbol of prosperity; when Ethiopia becomes one of the powerful nations on the world stage.

I take this opportunity to call upon all Ethiopian patriots who love Ethiopia to rise up and make this victory a reality.

May Ethiopia live forever, honored and respected through the efforts of her children!!

May the Creator bless Ethiopia and its people!

May 5, 2026