Advertise

Advertise

Ethiopia names anti-TPLF war commander as envoy to Kenya

 

Ethiopia on Thursday named a military general who was the face of the war against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) as its new ambassador to Kenya.

Gen Bacha Debele will take over from Meles Alem-Tekea, the career diplomat who had served in Nairobi since 2019, although he had been at the station earlier in a junior role.

The list announced by the Ethiopian ministry of foreign affairs on Thursday shows appointments of ambassadors and deputy heads of missions to 29 countries.

They were appointed by President Sahle-Work Zewde two months ago to countries like Kenya, Egypt, the US and Eritrea.

The post in Nairobi was significant because Gen Bacha had battled TPLF forces since 2020 and often spoke for the operations in public appearances.

After the outbreak of the Tigray conflict, General Bacha served as chief of army staff at the ministry of defence and was promoted to general in early January.

General Bacha was one of four senior military officers who were promoted general by President Sahle-Work in January following their nomination by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

But Gen Bacha’s appointment as ambassador had not been disclosed until Thursday, when the ministry revealed he will be heading to Nairobi. He will be deputised by Workalemahu Desta, who was named on Thursday as deputy head of the Nairobi Mission.

Dr Sileshi Bekele, who had served as minister of water, energy and irrigation for the past few years, was appointed ambassador to the United States.

Mr Sileshi is known for his key role in the trilateral negotiations with Sudan and Egypt on Ethiopia's controversial Nile dam project that the downstream countries fear could eventually diminish their water share from the river.

"What makes this round of ambassadorial appointments different is that it has created a balance between political appointees and career diplomats," said the ministry, adding that "some of the ambassadors will reside in Addis Ababa”.

Here is the list of newly appointed ambassadors and consuls general and deputy chiefs of missions and their designated countries:

1. Ambassador Tefera Derbew - Japan

2. Ambassador Dessie Dalk- South Korea

3. Ambassador Sileshi Bekele (PhD) - U.S.A.

4. Ambassador Bacha Debele - Kenya

5. Ambassador Hassen Ebrahim - Egypt

6. Ambassador Daba Debele - Rwanda

7. Ambassador Jemal Beker - Pakistan

8. Ambassador Feysel Ali - Qatar

9. Ambassador Isayas Gota - Morocco

10. Ambassador Tsegab Derbew - Australia

11. Ambassador Mihreteab Mulugeta - Sweden

12. Ambassador Fikadu Beyen - Eritrea

Ambassadors to various countries based in Ethiopia:

13. Ambassador Tafu Tullu - Brasil

14. Ambassador Genet Teshome (PhD) - Cuba

15.Ambassador Shitaye Minale – Cote d’ivoire

16. Ambassador Professor Fikadu Beyene - Indonesia

17. Ambassador Reshad Mohammed - Zimbabwe

Assigned as consuls general:

18. Ambassador Anteneh Taruku - Gedarif

19. Ambassador Aklilu Kebede - Dubai

20. Ambassador Seid Mohammed - Hargeisa

21. Ambassador Awol Wegris - Bahrain

Under the leadership of deputy heads of mission:

22. Ambassador Asaye Alemayehu - Ghana

23. Ambassador Hailay Birhanu - Germany

24. Ambassador Bizunesh Meseret - India

25. Ambassador Yosef Kassaye - New York

26. Ambassador Zelalem Birhanu - Washington

27. Ambassador Firtuna Dibako - Belgium

28. Ambassador Workalemahu Desta - Kenya

29. Ambassador Wubshet Demisse - England

30. Ambassador Mulugeta Kelil - Pakistan     BY DAILY NATION    

No comments

Translate