Ethiopia: wave of resignations around Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed

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In Ethiopia, this is the second resignation in a little over a month of an administrative official close to the power in place. The boss of the job creation commission has left office. Ephrem Tekle announced it on Friday. Officially for "personal reasons". In June, the investment commissioner did the same. Just like the Minister of Health, last December.

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In the three cases of resignation, they are senior officials, rather young, active on social networks. In short, the perfect face of the reforms carried by the teams around the Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed : a communicative, modern, liberal face. But, unlike the head of government, the three men are not members of the ruling party. Abiy has spent his entire career in the regime since 1991.

Ephrem Tekle, employment commissioner, Abebe Abebayehu, investment commissioner, why are they leaving? They did not publicly mention any disagreements. But their resignation letters arrived on Abiy Ahmed's desk in the midst of a political crisis . The Prime Minister's human rights record is increasingly criticized. What to discourage the less politicized of the senior administration?

The Reporter newspaper claims another figure could leave. Hallelujah Lulie, director of a public think tank. Different sources speak of pressure to the weekly Addis. Increasingly strong pressure from Party activists to close ranks and reconnect with what has made Ethiopia's mark for 30 years: the mix between party and state.

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• Ethiopia
• Abiy Ahmed