In a significant political development, Ethiopia’s parliament ratified the appointment of Temesgen Tiruneh, the current intelligence service chief, as the new deputy prime minister.
Tiruneh replaces Demeke Mekonnen, who held the position for an impressive 11 years, according to official government statements released on Thursday.
Alongside Tiruneh’s elevation, Taye Atske Selassie, a former ambassador to the United Nations, has been endorsed by parliament to assume the role of foreign minister, succeeding Demeke, who has concurrently served as foreign minister since 2020.
Temesgen Tiruneh, recognized for overseeing the government’s response to the conflict in the Amhara region, was elected as the vice president of the ruling Prosperity Party in late January, a position traditionally associated with the role of deputy prime minister.
In a further key appointment, Ethiopia’s national security adviser, Redwan Hussein, will succeed Temesgen Tiruneh as the head of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), the nation’s premier intelligence agency.
Redwan, a steadfast ally of Prime Minister Abiy, played a pivotal role in negotiating the peace deal that concluded the civil war in the Tigray region in 2022.
His extensive experience includes serving as a state minister at the foreign affairs ministry and as Ethiopia’s ambassador to Eritrea.
Demeke Mekonnen, a symbol of continuity in Ethiopian politics, assumed the position of deputy prime minister following the death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in 2012.
He navigated through the reorganization of the ruling party after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed assumed power in 2018.
Demeke was appointed as foreign minister in the aftermath of the civil war eruption in the Tigray region in November 2020, a conflict that persisted for two years and resulted in significant casualties.
In a parallel development, Mekdes Daba, a former official of the World Health Organization, has been named as the successor to Lia Tadesse as the health minister, as reported by the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.
These changes mark a substantial reshaping of key positions within the Ethiopian government, signalling a new phase in the country’s political landscape.
