Commissioner of Ethiopian Investment Commission, Fitsum Arega is likely to be nominated as Ethiopian ambassador to US. If confirmed, Fitsum would assume one of the government’s most prominent diplomatic posts. Reports of Fitsum’s nomination emerged a week ago in the Facebook page of the Finfinne Intercept. Today, his name appeared among the 20 ambassador appointees made by President Sahle-work Zewde, with no mention of his posting. However, according to multiple sources, Fitsum will head to Washington DC to replace the beleaguered Kassa Tekleberhan Gebrehiwot, who has been recalled to the country this month.
It has only been two months since Fitsum moved back to the Investment commission, that he previously led for five years. In between, he has served as the chief of staff for Prime Minister Abiy for six months, making a name as skilful communicator.
The former ambassador to the EU, Teshome Toga is nominated to become ambassador to China, according to reports. The ambassadorial post in Beijing has been vacant since end of July when Ambassador Berhane Gebre-Christos’ term ended. China is increasingly seen as an important ally and has become the largest contributor of aid to Ethiopia since a couple of years ago. Although Suleiman Dedefo, the former Ethiopian Ambassador to Djibouti, was tapped to be sent to Beijing, the idea was later dropped, it was reported. Ambassador Suleiman Dedefo has been appointed to lead the Mission in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the Finfinne Intercept reported.
Henok Tefera Shawl, until recently Vice-President of Strategic Planning and Alliances at Ethiopian Airlines, is likely to become Ethiopia’s Ambassador to France, replacing Ali Sulaiman, according to the Finfinne Intercept. Henok lived in France for some years and studied at Université Panthéon Sorbonne (Paris I). He also served as First Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia from February 2003-2010.
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Kassa Tekleberhan Gebrehiwot is indeed a beleaguered fellow. Let us remember it was his loyalty to Tigray Front that got him US ambassadorship. Why would a person barely conversant in American culture (first time abroad and unqualified by any measure) be assigned to such a high responsibility? Only two reasons; money and recruiting; that is, to realign diaspora community for purposes of raising and squireling funds, and to recruit collaborators. Kassa (not Amhara) has been playing the Amhara card so well that he was at one time assigned to chair board of the flagship Addis Ababa University! Not kidding at all!
One assignment that he did well in was as House of Federation chief. To memtion but a few, young leaders were recruited from minority regions and brought to Addis to consummate their wedding ALL EXPENSES PAID! Local histories were re-written to reflect Tigray Front design of working with mercenaries that are blackmailed once their use has ended. Please read Kassa’s speech at Nationalities Conference in Benshangul-Gumuz 4 years ago where a divisive narration prepared the ground for current turmoil in the region. The catch is always the same; promise of power and money in exchange for subservience to Tigray Front.
Fortunately, Abiy took the rein in time and Kassa’s (and Tigray Front’s) plan was quashed.
I do congratulate Dr. Abiy for his leadership in the new assignments. I would also strongly suggest the recalling of Berhane Gebrekristos from China; that is, hoping he would return to Addis!
It is interesting times indeed. Although I am reserving judgment to see the actual policies of team Abiy vis-a-vis the U.S. and Saudi-U.A.E. – all three are in the process of committing a genocide in Yemen, and having destroyed Libya and turned it into an open air slave market run by jihadi mafias they attempted to destroy Syria by funding, training, arming, and giving diplomatic cover to Al Nusra and other terrorists for the past 7 years. Any government of Ethiopia need’s to be carful to not be recruited into the bloody geopolitics of these actors.
Nevertheless, it is highly commendable that the much despised TPLF is continuing to get marginalized.