By De Birhan
03 August 2012
Most Ethiopian Missions and Embassies abroad are, as their name suggests, staffed by Ethiopian employees. If one heads to any Ethiopian Embassy or consulate in Europe, Asia or the U.S., he/she would be greeted by Ethiopian secretaries, ambassadors and counselors who speak the Ethiopia's working language, Amharic. Yes in addition to being envoys of Ethiopia, Ethiopian embassies are there to serve the interests, issues and requests of Ethiopians and those with Ethiopian origin. Therefore, staffers of these embassies should necessarily be Ethiopian in most cases.
The case with the Ethiopian Embassy in Brussels, Belgium is different though. Headed by Ambassador Dr. Kassu Ilala, the Embassy in Brussels, until very recently was fully staffed by Ethiopian Employees. Currently, if you have an issue to be dealt by the Ethiopian Embassy in Brussels, Belgium, you have to speak either English or French. The secretaries of the Embassy are now non Amharic speaking European employees. Ring and you will be greeted with "Please speak English".
Similarly, the former Ethiopian driver of the Embassy has been changed by another person from another African country. The cooks have also been changed.
Would this reshuffle have to do with Meles Zenawi's elusive status, who reportedly has been (dead) in Belgium, Brussels.
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