'Ethiopia faces social, political challenges to unity'

Ethiopia is facing a "life and death" stage of the politics of intrigue, said the country's prime minister in a meeting on Monday with members of parliament.

An intrigued politics and extremism are growing at the heart of state's integrity, said Abiy Ahmed .

"Foreign terrorist groups have been moving in, using Ethiopia's transition as an opportunity to wreak havoc on the country," he said.

He said over the last year the terrorist group al-Shabaab recruited young people in the regional states of Oromia and Amhara.

"This is a test, and a difficult social and political milieu that the country has now found itself in," he said. "But I am confident we will surmount all these challenges and move forward to prosperity."

With a much-anticipated election looming in August, the nation is gripped with uncertainty and fear as to what may happen to the unity of the country, with some even cautioning government to trace and address signs of genocide or civil war.

The president also deplored what he described as deepening "moral decay" among youth, leading to ethnic-based conflicts in universities and places of worship.

Abiy said: “There has been this unprecedented trend of guarding places of worship and universities with police force.”

Ethiopia will hold a parliamentary election in August, and 147 seats are up for grabs by more than 100 parties vying.