Ethiopia’s parliament on Thursday approved the appointment of intelligence service chief Temesgen Tiruneh as deputy prime minister, replacing Demeke Mekonnen, who had served in the role for 11 years, state-run media reported. In addition, parliament accepted the nomination of Taye Atske Selassie, a former ambassador to the United Nations, as foreign minister. A vice president of the party typically serves as deputy prime minister. He was appointed deputy prime minister after the death of longtime prime minister Meles Zenawi in 2012 and survived a reorganisation of the ruling party after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018. Abiy appointed Demeke as foreign minister days after civil war broke out in November 2020 in the northern Tigray region.

Source: Ethiopian News February 08, 2024 09:45 UTC