"Although he was powerful under Meles, Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi (3)'s
star is no longer shining so brightly. Work on the Saudi Arabian and
Ethiopian businessman's enormous five-star hotel, situated on the compound
of the African Union's headquarters, stalled for several months last year.
His company Saudi Star's rice farm is not yielding results, and Pakistani
company MCG Consulting, which had been working on the project, pulled out
at the end of last year"
http://www.theafricareport.com/East-Horn-Africa/ethiopia-the-post-meles-universe-takes-shape.html
Posted on Friday, 13 June 2014 17:28
Ethiopia: The post-Meles universe takes shape
By Elissa Jobson in Addis Ababa
TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS (1), DEBRETSION GEBREMICHAEL (2), MOHAMMED
HUSSEIN AL AMOUDI (3)
Prime Minister Hailemariam is developing a style of consensual politics,
but some politicans and businessmen are having difficulty adjusting.
The passing of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in August 2012 has shaken up the
business and political elite.
Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn does not favour the top-down and snap
decision-making practised by his predecessor, preferring instead to consult
more widely.
While this leads to a slower governmental machine, it protects the
administration from the odd rash decision.
This more collegiate style of governance has opened up the space for a
cadre of influential top advisers.
Old political hands Bereket Simon, who before Meles's death had been slated
to leave office in the next generational purge, and Abay Tsehaye are key
members of a brain trust intended to replace the phenomenal intellect of
the former Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) leader.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (1) has eased into his new role as foreign
minister. He had spearheaded the country's remarkable health reforms and
now has room to make a name for himself on the global stage.
Unlike Meles, Hailemariam does not seem to crave the international
spotlight.
Tedros's popular Twitter feed – he has nearly 24,700 followers – and his
strong statements on Africa and the International Criminal Court while
chairman of the African Union's executive council, have given him increased
visibility.
Hailemariam's appointment, soon after taking office, of two additional
deputy prime ministers has given further clout to Debretsion Gebremichael
(2), deputy chairman of the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF), one
of the constituent parties of the EPRDF.
Aside from his dual portfolio as deputy prime minister for the finance and
economic cluster and minister of communication and information technology –
the latter of which sees him in control of the Ethiopian Telecommunications
Corporation (ETC) – he is also chairman of two newly created companies,
Ethiopian Electric Power and Ethiopian Electric Services.
Arguably, this makes him one of the most influential men in government.
Azeb Mesfin, Meles's once powerful widow, has suffered mixed fortunes since
his death.
Despite her failure to win the election for mayor of Addis Ababa, losing to
former transport minister Diriba Kuma in July 2013, she remains a member of
the political bureau of the TPLF, the EPRDF's executive commit- tee and the
Endowment Fund For The Rehabilitation of Tigray.
Public and private
The business world was rocked by the arrest in May 2013 of more than 30
suspects – including Melaku Fenta, director general of the Ethiopian
Revenues and Customs Authority – on charges including tax evasion and
receiving bribes.
But Ethiopia remains a land of opportunity, if one goes by the number of
private equity companies passing through Addis Ababa.
The big state businesses like the Sugar Corporation and ETC remain
unchallenged by private sector rivals.
Brigadier General Kinfe Dagnew continues to look untouchable as he sits
atop the Metals and Engineering Corporation (METEC).
A state-owned industrial company consisting of close to 70 engineering
enterprises and military hardware manufacturing entities, METEC is the only
local contractor involved in the flagship $4.3bn Grand Renaissance Dam
project.
Another survivor of the Meles era, managing director of Ernst & Young
Ethiopia Zemedeneh Negatu, is making a push into technology companies in
his private capacity.
In a well timed move into mobile banking and IT training, Zemedeneh is
poised to reap dividends.
Although he was powerful under Meles, Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi (3)'s star
is no longer shining so brightly. Work on the Saudi Arabian and Ethiopian
businessman's enormous five-star hotel, situated on the compound of the
African Union's headquarters, stalled for several months last year.
His company Saudi Star's rice farm is not yielding results, and Pakistani
company MCG Consulting, which had been working on the project, pulled out
at the end of last year. ●
Photo Credits: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Evan Schneider/UN), Debretsion
Gebremichael (All Rights Reserved), Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi (All Rights
Reserved)
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universe takes shape | East & Horn Africa
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Received on Wed Jun 18 2014 - 20:33:09 EDT