<
http://www.ethiopianreview.net/index/?p=53629> PM Hailemariam Desalegn
expresses frustration to close confidants
Elias Kifle
24/12/2012
http://www.ethiopianreview.net/index/?p=53629
Ethiopia's new prime minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, has expressed
frustration with the Tigrean People Liberation Front (TPLF) to a group of
close friends he recently met. One long time friend of the prime minister
(who wants to remain anonymous) told Ethiopian Review today that Hailemariam
is finding it impossible to get cooperation from the TPLF members who are
dominating the bureaucracy and military on a number of issues, most
particularly making personnel decisions. TPLF officials also keep him in the
dark on national security matters and he doesn't get timely reports as a
commander-in-chief.
Ethiopian Review's source also said Hailemariam wants to give amnesty to all
political prisoners, but hardliners in the TPLF-dominated state security are
dead set against it.
Asked if Hailemariam is concerned about his security, the source said that
all his family and friends are extremely worried, but Hailemariam himself
doesn't seem to be concerned.
Hailemariam wants to mend relations with the Eritrean government and he was
furious that the Ethiopian football federation requested change of venue for
the scheduled soccer match with Eritrea. Hailemariam believes that peaceful
relations with Eritrea will solve most of the security issues in the region.
However, TPLF leaders believe that Eritrea policy is their domain and they
don't want Hailemariam to come near it, Ethiopian Review source said.
The Nile river dam project is another area where Hailemariam feels that he
is being sabotaged. Ever since the late dictator Meles Zenawi died last
July, the TPLF has almost completely withdrawn support for the project,
which is currently facing a crippling shortage of funds. Construction
workers are not being paid on time, and critical supplies and equipments are
not arriving. Much of the funds that have been collected so far have also
been unaccounted for, the source said.
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Received on Mon Dec 24 2012 - 19:24:46 EST
