Getachew Assefa, the former director of the National Intelligence and Security Services, whose future seemed precarious for some time, has managed to retain his position as member of the political bureau of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the EPRDF’s executive committee. Getachew who reportedly fled the capital to Mekele to escape arrest after he was removed from his position as spy chief happened to be among the 9-Tigray TPLF executive members elected on Monday as the TPLF concluded congress meeting.
Getachew, who keeps a low public profile, first joined the TPLF’s Central Committee on September 2015 at the 12th TPLF congress. His access to the politburo committee meetings gave him a wider remit to be involved in more strategic issues than his previous portfolio, which focused on intelligence, making him one the most influential men in the government. In some quarters, he was even viewed as more powerful than the then Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
However, after the coming of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on April, Getachew’s political fortunes suffered downs. He was replaced by Adem Mohammed as the director of the intelligence service in early June. He has been absent from the ruling party’s meeting held in early September and other gatherings, prompting a flurry of speculation over his whereabouts. Yet his inclusion in the powerful executive today indicate his survival and strong support base in his own party, observers say. Others see a potential for political storm. “TPLF appears stuck between continuity and change, stubbornly choosing the former to resist the fast-paced reforms being ushered in by PM Abiy Ahmed,” founder and editor of OPride.com, Mohammed Ademo tweeted. “By re-electing the notorious Getachew Asefa to EC instead of purging him and handing him over to federal authorities TPLF has clearly indicating intention to renew conflict,” Jawar Mohammed, an influential Oromo activist commented.
Predictably, Debretsion Gebremichael was re-elected chairman of TPLF. Fetlework Gebregziabher was also re-elected deputy chairwoman, the pro-government Radio Fana reported. Getachew Reda, Asmelash Woldesilassie, Abrham Tekeste, Keria Ibrahim, Addisalem Balema and Alem Gebrewahid are also elected to Executive Committee.
