Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has gone to direct the war effort from the front lines, and Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen Hassen will take charge of routine government business in Abiy's absence, state-affiliated media reported on Wednesday.

The country's government spokesman Legesse Tulu detailed the transfer of some routine duties at a news conference, according to the report from Fana news outlet.

The prime minister announced late on Monday he was planning to personally direct the fight against forces loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

"Let's meet at the war front," he wrote in a statement on Twitter late on Monday, calling on citizens to "lead the country with sacrifice" and join him.

"All of you who aspire to be one of Ethiopia's most admired children, stand up for your country and join me on the front line," he wrote.

The conflict, which erupted in Ethiopia's northernmost Tigray region between forces loyal to the TPLF and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) on November 4 last year, has spread across the neighboring Amhara and Afar regions in the past months.

Over the past months, forces loyal to the rebel group TPLF have advanced southward into central parts of the East African country.

A huge mobilization to halt the TPLF's expansion followed in the Amhara and Afar regions and other regional states.

Earlier this month, the Ethiopian House of People's Representatives ratified a six-month state of emergency rule to contain the rebel group's advancement and ensure the country's peace and security.

(With input from agencies)