Berhane Gebre-Christos, a veteran member of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn’s special envoy to foreign missions with the rank of a Minister, is nominated for the role of Ethiopian ambassador to China, high-placed sources told Ethiopia Observer. China is increasingly seen as an important ally and has become the largest contributor of aid to Ethiopia since a couple of years ago. The nomination of such political heavyweight for the post highlights the country places on its relation with China, according to sources. Berhane, was considered for that post since a while ago, the same source said. Berhane would replace another political heavyweight and veterans of the armed struggle Seyoum Mesfin, who took the post in 2010. Seyoum had mostly been absent from Beijing as he was busy leading regional efforts to end the conflict in neighbouring South Sudan, according to reports.
Berhane Gebre-Christos served as state minister for foreign affairs from 2010 to 2015. From 2002 to 2010, he was ambassador of Ethiopia to the European Union and from 1992 to 2002, he served as Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the United States. Berhane was a close ally of the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.