TPLF selects new leadership, no new faces

The 10th conference of the ruling Tigray People’s Liberation Front (Woyanne) this week selects new executive and central committees. The selection brought little change. Some of the changes are:

Sibhat Nega has been forced out. His ouster has been engineered by Meles Zenawi’s wife Azeb Mesfin who wanted to take over EFFORT, the TPLF business conglomerate that he has been controlling.

Seyoum Mesfin, Arkebe Equbay, and Abay Tsehay have been removed from the Executive Committee, but they remain in the central committee. They were the only remaining voices inside the executive committee (politburo) who some times stand up to Meles.

Azeb Mesfin, Debretsion Gebre-Mikael, and Beyene Mikru have been promoted to the Executive Committee.

The other six members — Meles Zenawi, Tsegay Berhe, Abay Woldu, Abadi Zemo, Tewodros Hagos, and Dr Tewodros Adhanom — remain in the 9-member executive committee. Meles will continue as chairman and Abay Wolde, currently Vice President of Tigray, has been selected as vice-chairman of TPLF, replacing Seyoum Mesfin.

Among the new Executive Committee members, Debretsion GebreMikael is known to be Meles Zenawi’s yes-man who has been assigned to block news web sites and jam radio stations as head of Ethiopian Information and Communication Technology Development Agency. His primary task as head of the agency is to make sure that most Ethiopians will not have access to information technology.

Beyene Mikru is another Meles Zenawi loyalist who has served as head of the Tigray Region Education Bureau.

Tsegay Berhe is another Meles loyalist who is currently the president of Tigray Region. He was appointed to that position after the former president of Tigray, Gebru Asrat, had a fallout with Meles. Gebru Asrat now heads the opposition Arena Party.

Of course we all know Azeb Mesfin, the first lady of Africa’s corruption who, along with her husband, has stolen hundreds of millions of dollars of Ethiopia’s treasure. Her new position as one of the 9 people who rule Ethiopia will allow to do more looting.

Dr Tewodros Adhanom is currently the Health Minister. Under his watch, Ethiopia’s health care system has become one of the worst in Africa. These days people in Ethiopia go to a hospital to die, not to get treatment.

Mulugeta Alemseged, Dr. Gebreab Barnabas, Dr. Adhane Haile, Tewolde Gebru (Director of TDA), Dr. Hailemikael Abera, Fiseha Zerihun (Mayor of Mekelle), and Dr Wolderufael Alemayehu have resigned from the Central Committee.

Gebreab Barnabas is responsible for the Anuak massacre (genocide) in Ethiopia’s western region of Gambella.

There is little surprise in the selection of members to both the the Executive and Central committees. It is simply a reshuffle of existing members to allow Meles Zenawi solidify his grip on the organization.

Similar reshuffles have taken place in TPLF’s puppet groups, OPDO and ANDM. Addisu Legese, Tefera Walwa, Aba Dula Gemeda, Junedin Sado and other high-profile puppets have been removed from top leadership positions, while tail-wagging loyal adghis Demeke Mekonnen, Gedu Andargachew, Alemayehu Atomsa, and Kuma Demeksa were promoted to chairmanships.

The new TPLF Executive Committee

1. Meles Zenawi
2. Tsegay Berhe
3. Abay Woldu
4. Abadi Zemo
5. Tewodros Hagos
6. Dr Tewodros Adhanom
7. Debretsion Gebre-Mikael
8. Beyene Mikru
9. Azeb Mesfin

The new TPLF Central Committee (Politburo)

1. Meles Zenawi
2. Seyoum Mesfin
3. Abay Tsehaye
4. Fetlework Gebre-Egziabher
5. Arkebe Equbay
6. Beyene Mikru
7. Debre-Tsion Gebre-Michael
8. Roman Gebre-Selassie
9. Dr. Tewodros Adhanom
10. Abay Woldu
11. Azeb Mesfin
12. Nega Berhe
13. Desta Bezabih
14. Abay Nebso
15. Gobezay Wolde -Aregay
16. Kiros Bitew
17. Tewodros Hagos
18. Mikael Abreha
19. Yitbarek Ameha
20. Alem Gebre-Wahd
21. Tsegay Berhe
22. Dr. Addisalem Balema
23. Teklewoyni Assefa
24. Berhane Kidane-Mariam
25. Abadi Zemo
26. Niguse Gebre
27. Hadish Zenebe
28. Getachew Belay
29. Berhane Gebre-Kirstos
30. Tirfu Kidane-Mariam
31. Tewolde Gebre-Tsadikan
32. Hishe Lemma
33. Kidusan Nega
34. Essayas Wolde-Giorgis
35. Tilahun Tarek
36. Zeray Asgedom
37. Meseret Gebre-Mariam
38. Mengisteab Wolde-Kidan
39. Getachew Assefa
40. Daniel Assefa
41. Tesfalem Yehdego
42. Gebre-Meskel Tarek
43. Tewolde Berhe
44. Sahleselassie Teka
45. Eyassu Tesfay

The new ANDM executive committee

1. Demeke Mekonnen
2. Gedu Andargachew
3. Addisu Legesse
4. Bereket Simon
5. Kassa Tekle-Berhan
6. Tefera Deribew
7. Binalf Andualem
8. Ayalew Gobeze
9. Berhan Hailu
10. Alemnew Mekonnen
11. Melaku Fenta
12. Tadesse Kassa
13. Ahmed Abtew

New ANDM Central Committee Members

1.Addisu Legesse (Chairman)
2.Tefera Walwa (Deputy Chairman)
3.Dr.Sintayehu Wolde-Michael
4.Ayalew Gobeze (Executive Committee member)
5.Bereket Simon (Executive Committee member)
6.Dr. Misrak Mekonnen
7.Ambachew Mekonnen (Executive Committee member)
8.Demeke Mekonnen (Executive Committee member)
9.Firehiwot Ayalew
10.Yohannes Buayalew (Executive Committee member)
11.Tefera Deribew
12.Zimam Assefa
13.Getachew Mengiste
14.Birhan Hailu (Executive Committee member)
15.Genet Gebre-Egziabher
16.Melaku Fenta
17.Kebede Chane
18.Dr. Assefa Gebre
19.Yoseph Reta (Executive Committee member)
20.Genet Zewde
21.Shitaye Minale
22.Getachew Haile-Mariam
23.Hilawi Yoseph
24.Bazezew Chane
25.Tesfaye Getachew
26.Getachew Jembere
27.Gedu Andargachew
28.Serawit Sileshi
29.Yinager Dessie
30.Alebachew Nigussie
31.Meseret Tesfu
32.Dawit Yohannes
33.Zenebu Tadesse
34.Dr.Hassen Teshome
35.Nega Tsegaye
36.Mulugeta Wuletaw
37.Wuletaw Haile-Mariam
38.Tilaye Gete
39.Tabor Gebre-Medhin
40.Tadesse Kassa
41.Alemayehu Sewagegn
42.Mulugeta Seid
43.Gebeyaw Tadesse
44.Yehulu Denekew
45.Desalegn Wodaje
46.Genet Tadesse
47.Tessema Gebre-Hiwot
48.Meles Tilahun
49.Mitiku Beyene
50.Mule Tarekegn
51.Mekonnen Yelewmwossen
52.Yalew Abate
53.Dessalegn Ambaw
54.Wubishet Abera
55.Legesse Tulu
56.Tadesse Shewa
57.Tefera Feyisa
58.Sileshi Temesgen
59.Fanaye Yilma
60.Binalf Andualem
61.Getaye Ambaye
62.Workineh Mekonnen
63.Hassen Yesuf
64.Melke Tadesse
65.Ambachew Abate

The new OPDO executive committee

1. Girma Birru
2. Sofian Ahmed
3. Kuma Demeksa
4. Alemayehu Atomsa
5. Abadula Gemeda
6. Muktar Kedir
7. Zelalem Jemaneh
8. Abdulaziz Mohammed
9. Diriba Kuma
10. Aster Mamo
11. Junedin Sado
12. Almayehu Ejigu
13. Lemma Megerssa
14. Umer Hussen and
15. Degife Bula

New OPDO Central Committee Members

1.Abadula Gemeda (Chairman)
2.Girma Biru (Deputy Chairman)
3.Kuma Demeksa (Executive Committee Member)
4.Shiferaw Jarsso (Executive Committee Member)
5.Aster Mammo (Executive Committee Member)
6.Muktar Kedir (Executive Committee Member)
7.Juneidi Saddo (Executive Committee Member)
8.Jemal Usman
9.Demisse Shito
10.Mustafa Abasemal
11.Lemma Megersa
12.Ababu Hordoffa
13.Muhammed Abdosh
14.Abdulkadir Abdi
15.Jibril Mohammed
16.Workneh Gegeyehu
17.Alemayehu Ejigu
18.Biru Wirt
19.Fikadu Tessema
20.Zelalem Jemaneh (Executive Committee Member)
21.Sisay Negash
22.Abera Hailu
23.Abdulaziz Mohammed
24.Dr.Mohammed Hassen
25.Sileshi Gode
26.Driba Kuma (Executive Committee Member)
27.Beker Shale
28.Sufian Ahmed
29.Kidanu Kebede
30.Dr.Hassen Mohammed
31.Gurmessa Shurabe
32.Degife Bula
33.Eshetu Desse
34.Tekle Dereesa
35.Alemayehu Atomsa
36.Daba Debele
37.Dagnachew Shiferaw
38.Gelana Nuresa
39.Getachew Bedane
40.Dewano Kedir
41.Alake Sinbro
42.Regassa Kefyalew
43.Gifti Abasiya
44.Professor Mesfin Abebe
45.Ali Siraj
46.Alemayehu Tegenu
47.Itaffa Tola
48.Nega Abamecha
49.Gebissa Tesfaye
50.Adanech Habebe
51.Mohammed Jillo

New SEPDM Central Committee Members

1. Teshome Toga (Executive Committee member)
2. Hailemariam Dessalegn (Executive Committee member)
3. Shiferaw Shigute (Executive Committee member)
4. Alemayehu Assefa
5. Tsegaye Mamo (Executive Committee member)
6. Tekle Didu
7. Birhanu Adelo (Executive Committee member)
8. Shiferaw Teklemariam (Executive Committee member)
9. Fikru Gnakal
10.Kaidake Gezahegn
11.Admasu Ango
12.Kassu Ilala (Executive Committee member)
13.Aster Donocho
14.Assefa Kessito
15.Hirut Delebo
16.Zerihun Kebede
17.Mekuria Haile (Executive Committee member)
18.Siraj Fegesa (Executive Committee member)
19.Mathewos Galebo
20.Damana Darota
21.Amarech Bekalo
22.Tamiru Taddese
23.Muder Sema
24.Amarech Agidew
25.Zenebe Zafu
26.Yakob Yala
27.Nuredin Hassen
28.Redwan Hussein (Executive Committee member)
29.Gebremariam Setegn
30.Sani Redi
31.Tamirat Irfo
32.Amanuel Otoro
33.Kebede Kanchula
34.Nigatu Densa
35.Mofariat Kamil
36.Meles Gashe
37.Ayano Baraso
38.Gorfu Sigido
39.Gebrekristos Nuriye
40.Wodo Ato
41.Berhanu Bikito
42.Ake Hidana (Executive Committee member)
43.Maeregu Habtemariam
44.Abere Kipe
45.Eristu Yirda
46.Debebe Abera
47.Workinesh Weishango
48.Bateno Ahmed
49.Mathewos Maldayo
50.Gumachew Kussie
51.Teklewold Atnafu
52.Zerhun Zewde
53.Frenesh Mekuria
54.Eyob Anbesse
55.Tejitu Samuel
56.Efrem Worku
57.Taddese Sella
58.Petros Woldesenbet
59.Seifu Kinfu
60.Wogayehu Biyadgilign
61.Balguda Bekele
62.Moges Balcha
63.Adanech Dilnesaw
64.Wondimu Gezahegn
65.BIrhanu Kifetew
66.Messele Bezabih
67.Tesfaye Belachew
68.Tefera Molla
69.Ketema Shiferaw
70.Darota Guma
71.Jamal Reshid
72.Kassahun Alemu
73.Adama Tinpaye
74.Mulugeta Fetene
75.Dereje Dakegucho
76.Tesfaye Beljig
77.Tufa Doicha
78.Temesgen Tilahun
79.Misrak Abebe
80.Irano Elebo
81.Sania Sani
82.Birhanu Minota
83.Adane Gebeyehu
84.Meles Alemu
85.Tekle Tessema
86.Tadelech Dalocha
87.Moges Moroma
88.Usman Surur
89.Tegasa Chaffo
90.Elias Ramahato
91.Dawit Gebremedhin
92.Ayano Semono
93.Solomon Tesfaye
94.Assefa Abiyo
95.Bergude Bancha
96.Fate Sermolo
97.Kamil Ahmed
98.Sein Gebreyohannes
99.Binyam Nehmia
100.Mihretu Giso