ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopian lawmakers endorsed the appointment of Temesgen Tiruneh, the intelligence chief, as the new deputy to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, following the removal of Demeke Mekonnen from the position.
Taye Atske Selassie, former ambassador to the United Nations and current diplomatic adviser to Abiy, was also approved as the new foreign minister.
Abiy’s administration framed these changes as a move to fortify the country’s leadership amidst ongoing challenges such as regional conflicts, food insecurity, and economic woes.
Moreover, Ethiopia recently caused tensions by striking a deal with the breakaway Somali region of Somaliland for access to the sea, upsetting Mogadishu.
These appointments indicate Abiy’s effort to consolidate trusted allies amid the country’s geopolitical strains. Demeke, who previously held both the foreign minister and deputy prime minister roles, was removed from his positions last month, foreshadowing these changes.
Furthermore, Redwan Hussein will succeed Temesgen as the head of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), while Tigist Hamid will take over as the new head of the intelligence and cybersecurity agency INSA.
