Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has appointed Dawan Kedir as the third state minister for the Ministry of Foreign Affiars (MoFA), to serve alongside Brehane Gebre-Christos and Nega Tsegaye. The latter two have been serving in their position for over three years.

A lawyer by training, Dawan had served as a senior official at the Oromia Justice Bureau, in the region's prosecutor office, before he was moved to the EPRDF Council based in Addis Abeba.

Different hypotheses are being put forward why it has become necessary to add a third appointee, including the possibility that Nega will soon be appointed as ambassador to Qatar. Others dismiss this, and no official confirmation is made to his transfer. An alternate hypothesis is that there is a need within the Ministry for someone to handle the recruitment of recruitment and staff training. Currently, Brehane is responsible for diplomatic affairs, while Nega is in charge of administration and finance.

The Ministry is currently setting up a diplomatic training centre that will offer post graduate studies to Ethiopian diplomats.

Published on January 23 [ Vol 13 ,No 665]