Ethiopia’s recently appointed ambassadors will depart to their destinations in two weeks, a senior government official told Capital. Ethiopia’s leading partners, the United States of America, most European countries and China, have sent their agreements to host the appointees and in the coming two weeks their heads of government will receive Ethiopia’s top diplomats.
The European Union (EU) however is yet to notify the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs if it accepted the proposed appointee.
Addis Ababa wants to station former Minister of Works and Urban Development, Kassu Illala (PhD) – a cabinet minister turned diplomat- in Brussels, Belgium as Ethiopia’s ambassador to the EU.
As is normal practice when appointing diplomats, Ethiopia asked the EU to confirm if it accepts Dr. Kassu’s appointment to Brussels and the EU has not yet answered, according to a senior government official who asked not to be named.
Former House Speaker Ambassador Teshome Toga is heading to Paris to become Ethiopia’s top diplomat there.
Some of the Ethiopian missions in European countries will keep their bosses, such as in the United Kingdom where Ambassador Berhanu Kebede will remain in his post.
Recently praised together with India by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi as ‘dependable ally’, China expressed its agreement to host elite TPLF figure, former Foreign Affairs Minister Seyoum Mesfin. He too is expected to leave for Beijing in the next two weeks.
Seyoum’s long time deputy, former state minister Tekeda Alemu (PhD) does not need approval as he heads to become the top diplomat in New York where the United Nations is headquartered.
Soon to become Dr. Tekeda’s neighbor, is former Trade and Industry Minister Girma Birru who needed an ‘OK’ from the White House.
According to the official Capital talked to, Girma got the required approval and will head to Washington as Ethiopia’s ambassador to the United States. Girma will soon present his credentials to President Barack Obama.
After months of speculation as to where the government’s appointees are to be stationed after being named Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in October, it is known now that former Federation House speaker Degefe Bula is heading to Kampala, Uganda.
Among the rare female top diplomats, the list will soon include Gifti Abassiya, once a cabinet minister. Ambassador Gifti will be stationed in Accra, Ghana as Ethiopia’s top diplomat there.
Most African countries have yet to send Addis Ababa their confirmations for proposed ambassadors.
While Addis Ababa understands the slow bureaucracy of African colleagues, it is happy some of the crucial neighbors such as Egypt have confirmed their ambassadors.
Egypt said ok to Ambassador Mohammed Dirir, so did Yemen to Ambassador Hassen Abdella. Ambassador Mohammed will head to Cairo which according to PM Meles, is supporting a rebel group in an effort to destabilize Ethiopia so that it won’t share Nile resources equitably.
Appointed in October and sworn in before President Girma WoldeGiorgis on November 12, the departing ambassadors have two key missions.
In a workshop held for more than two weeks for these ambassadors, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country’s foreign relations will focus on technology transfer, and trade and investments during the coming five years.
