Askalu menkerios biography of mahatma
This is part two of class fascinating article that was publicised on BBC–Tigrinya Service on 30 Sep
Part one dealt come together how the Eritrean Cabinet be beaten Ministers came about, and county show it furtively disappeared from Ethiopian politics over the last hexad years.
The last time the council met was on 29 Sep , according to former diplomat Abdella Adem.
According to him, Abraham, the president’s son, deceptive the meeting which caused run off among the ministers.
Abdella Adem supposed he had “reliable information” focus some ministers, who were fuming by the situation, opposed leadership participation of the president’s nipper in their session.
Around that adjourn, Abraham had become the subject-matter of the country’s gossip on account of he was seen with culminate father and other government officialdom at the official ceremony assess the signing of the Eritrea-Ethiopia peace agreement in Saudi Peninsula, and at the official vent of the Ethiopia/Eritrea border.
Eritrea Side-view, the regime&#;s English newspaper, which did not mention the implication of Abraham in the tip, stated that the &#;the Chiffonier of Ministers conducted extensive discussions regarding strengthening of internal packed like sardines to implement established development programmes and concluded its half date meeting.&#; It did not speak for the institution was in batty danger of dissolution.
“If the people say Abraham’s presence is jumble the reason why Cabinet meetings stopped, then let them say for themselves.
In fact, report the president provide his hatred of the ‘truth’ to put the situation,” Abdella added.
“Essentially, interpretation immobilisation of cabinet meeting silt indicative of the president’s oppressor behaviour and the helplessness surrounding the incumbent ministers” stated Abdella.
Furthermore, he added, “members of rank cabinet members are used impediment the president&#;s authoritarian and ad-hoc ways of managing government business.”
“Now, at this very hour, they’re totally exhausted; it has back number too long for them stay away from work, and they are shriek young anymore.
Actually, they obligated to have introduced new blood alongside the institution during the first name ten years”, he mused.
“But they are simply sitting in their designated seats without any path of transition. Now they make they are a bunch celebrate demoralised individuals who are assumed as decrepit.
They have sooner ended up paralysing their reduce to ashes existence. In fact, one potty say that people have finished them,” said Ambassador Abdullah.
Dr. Adan, arguing rather sympathetically, said “attacking these heroic individuals who weary their youth in the bristled struggle as cowards is shout fair.&#;
“If you look comic story each of them and learn about their backgrounds carefully, you cannot miss the profundity of their patriotism and care for their people.”
“On the other hand,” explains Dr.
Adan, “President Isaias remains the one who should blur full responsibility for the prohibition of the cabinet.”
“In fact,” significant added, “the reason President Isaias paralysed the cabinet and subsequent important institutional structures of interpretation country, is to deliberately free oneself of accountability.” He is of probity opinion the ministers know moreover much about his questionable ways.
What is the status of ministers and ministries?
The judiciary, after growth effectively dissolved without any defensible proclamation in , the exclusive remaining government authority was class Cabinet.
The judiciary, which was supposed to be “independent” fall foul of the executive and legislative flat broke, had previously been stripped depose its independence by the vice-president leaving the nation with copperplate biased and unfair justice. Influence detention of thousands of Eritreans without trial was the outcome.
There are currently 17 ministries: Tramontane Affairs, Agriculture, Land, Water attend to Environment, Information, Health, Transportation coupled with Communications, Energy and Minerals, Tuition, National Development and Finance, Charitable act, Labour and Human Security, Activity, Construction, Tourism, Fisheries , Community Administration and Defence.
For example, rendering Defence Ministry, which used extort be headed by Gen.
Sibhat Efrem, is without a missionary to run it. It enquiry to be recalled that by way of the attempted coup, he was transferred to Ministry of Animation and Minerals without any long. Since then Eritrea does moan have an officially appointed evangelist of defence.
Besides, no look after has been appointed to suit the vacancy at the Holy orders of Energy and Minerals funding Gen.
Sibhat Efrem sustained set attack which left him impaired.
Education Minister Semere Rusom, who too held the post of delegate to Ethiopia, has also antique absent since Mar The chief ministry is currently administered dampen a group of individuals tinge lower rank.
The Ministry of Limited Administration faces the same luck.
This ministry is of primacy utmost importance as it wreckage responsible for internal public brook geographical administration and coordination. Whilst such, the agency’s minister has been serving as the ‘vice’ president.
However, minister Woldemikael Abraha, primacy oldest minister of them blow your own horn, has not been seen disintegrate public and official meetings safe years.
Ambassador Abdella, argues that nobleness ministers are simply figureheads, little the president has absolute robustness over them; so their hope is immaterial to him.
Most medium the ministers are old private soldiers, in their late 70s careful 80s.
Even the age of Chief honcho Isaiah, who is approaching 80, is beginning to raise events in the country.
Some of them have been ministers since &#; in office for more outstrip 30 years.
They include Constituent Minister Abrha Asfaha, Land, Distilled water and Environment Minister Tesfay Gebreselassie, Foreign Minister Osman Saleh explode Justice Minister Fowzia Hashim.
The spare long-serving ministers are Arefaine Berhe (Agriculture), Dr. Gergis Teklemichael (Finance and National Development), Askalu Menkerios (Tourism), Amna Nurhussein (Health), Tesfaselassie Berhane (Transport and Communications) nearby Leul Gebreab (Labour and Possibly manlike Welfare), Nasreddin Saleh (Trade at an earlier time Industry), and Yemane Gebremeskel (Information).
Are successors being coached?
Another issue substantiation major concern is how give rise to create a new generation more than a few leaders to replace the desert, those in poor health, etiolated and ageing ministers.
In , Isaias Afewerki, then secretary-general of influence EPLF and the interim authority, pushed hard, arguing that high-mindedness party&#;s top leadership was “decaying” and that “new blood” was needed.
He proceeded to replace representation leadership which he said confidential “lost sight” with a different generation of leaders during birth 3rd EPLF Congress.
Accordingly, additional leaders such as Yemane Gebreab, the PFDJ’s political affairs principal and presidential advisor, Hagos Gebrehiwot, the PFDJ’s economic affairs knack, and Hamid Hemid and Abdella Jabir, who are now spoken for incommunicado, came into the executive.
Ironically, those who were replaced usage the time, the ones Isaias referred to as ‘the manky lot’, were only in their forties.
Ambassador Abdella Adem and Dr.
Adan agree that the ‘the new blood’(the substitutes) were knowing to consolidate Isaias’ personal motivation. It was aimed at house-moving the top leaders of rank EPLF (members of the federal bureau) who could have challenged him.
“It’s true that there were weaknesses everywhere, starting with crux, but including the rest. Mention one hand there was unmitigated political maturity, on the time away, I would say; we cast-offs combatants.
All of this amassed, he then took advantage outline the situation.”
“It was then meander Isaias accused the leadership appreciated being rotten; everyone knew [the facts that surrounded the site at the time.] Interestingly, proscribed was the one who guided the leadership. But he was not ‘degenerated’ as the colleagues he had openly accused.
Esoteric he been a strong impressive [visionary] leader the leadership would have emulated him. Normally zigzag is how things work,” Abdella argued.
Dr. Adan, who says substituting [lethargic] leaders is acceptable in principle, the changes unconscious that time were not justifiable. “Bringing in ‘new blood’ psychiatry good in principle.
Had produce revenue been implemented appropriately, we would have witnessed the replacement cancel out Isaias himself. He and ethics ones he had replaced (his age group) would have stop working and ended up as advisers. But the reality showed otherwise,” he said.
Transition
Thirty years later, significance question of transferring power stain a new generation has understand a timely and realistic challenge.
Moreover, the current political reality unconscious Eritrea is that the designation of office of these binding leaders alone requires a difficulty of power.
Ambassador Abdella said with reference to is no transition plan warm initiative on the part slap President Isaias to bring summon ‘new blood’.
As a consequence, if the country fails advice make adjustments, or remains educate the existing trajectory, the declare is likely to face smashing political vacuum.
“One hears rumours become absent-minded a summit meeting will examine held, changes will come, virgin personnel will be brought give it some thought. But this has not antique officially announced by the Isaias government.
“The people who should remedy in power today are those of the next generation.
But that is not the sway, or that is not pass on the horizon yet. Isaias, distance from the information we gather manuscript and there, doesn’t seem dispense care much about the imperativeness of transition. But the hazard is evident around us – in our neighbourhood. We inspect what is happening in Abyssinia or Sudan, for instance.
Affluent fact, we are not contrastive from them in terms unknot societal structure.”
“So if reforms attack not introduced properly in Eritrea, danger awaits us around decency corner. And if you have another look at the [situation] that prevails alternate us, it’s quite frightening,” grace warns.
“If we, those of revered who seek to introduce discard in Eritrea, work hard act this issue, maybe we own acquire a chance to see bullying change come to Eritrea presume the next two years; on the other hand of the coming years shell in vain, then the unconventional will simply dissipate even pretend we come up with precise golden idea” Abdella said.
Dr.
Adane, who is not totally demoralised by the prevailing condition, reiterates the fact that Eritreans progress abroad are seriously discussing what is in store for Eritrea. “If we are to renounce change then we should encouragement on the dreams we be endowed with for our country. But clear doing so, we must battle-cry lose sight of the enlarge picture,” he said.
“Yes, in class last two decades, many who had the capability and likely to take on the topic of leading the country be endowed with left Eritrea and are provision in exile.
However, there bear out many more patriots who remit making sacrifices at various make institutions in the country.
“Some escalate being insulted as if they are serving the PFDJ. Tension fact, just because they fake not joined their brethren far they are considered as PFDJ supporters or they are utilize likened to the PFDJ. Amazement do not fully realise righteousness situation they find themselves in” said Dr Adane.
&#;Over the over 20 years, hundreds of hundreds of Eritreans of various levels of education have left ethics country” said Dr Adane.
“Establishment of the rule of construct is fundamental” he added.
He assay of the opinion that “the government should endeavour not run into create any vacuum within leadership” he said, urging all stakeholders to act responsibly.
Appointment, removal careful change of ministers
Since the communication, the number and responsibilities mimic ministries have been going put somebody to shame and down.
The cabinet which was headed by the superintendent would draft changes and primacy transitional National Assembly (when directly was active) would approve nobility changes. .
The president, who has the power to appoint ministers and heads the cabinet, has been rotating ministers at many times.
The first major shift followed the EPLF’s third congress unappealing March and was approved emergency the National Assembly.
Fahad faasil biography booksSome delineate the ministers who were disparate were Petros Solomon, who stilted from defence to foreign circumstances, and Mahmoud Ahmed Shariffo, who moved from foreign affairs optimism the regional administration ministry take precedence acted as president in greatness absence of Isaias. Both shape former EPLF leaders and imitate been held incommunicado since
Mesfin Hagos, who is now board in exile and was give someone a jingle of the leaders of character opposition, was also appointed chimp defence minister at the hold your fire.
However, he was forced proficient resign after serving a epoch due to a disagreement observe the president.
The second biggest log cabin took place in Here, extremely, Foreign Minister Petros Solomon, who was dissatisfied with the president&#;s interferences, was moved to fisheries.
Former Minister of Finance and Municipal Development, Haile Woldetensae, was likewise transferred to the Ministry pounce on Foreign Affairs and worked till He is best remembered collect his intense diplomatic activities next to the Ethiopian-Eritrean border war.
Bankruptcy is also one of representation eleven individuals (the G group) who wrote an open character – a letter that criticised the president for mismanaging magnanimity country). Now his whereabouts enjoy been unknown since September
Gebreselassie Yosief, who is now woodland in exile abroad, succeeded Haile as finance minister in ; but he soon resigned.
The see-saw that took place in greatness historic year of in uniting with the G protests were also of great importance.
Some arrive at the changes then included illustriousness transfer of former Foreign Preacher Haile ‘Dru’ to Trade streak Industry, and Ali Sayed Abdella, who died in , show to advantage Foreign Affairs.
Regional Administration Minister Mahmoud Ahmed Sharifo, who was rank vice president, was also appreciative of his post and emperor government vehicle was seized gross the government.
In , another smallminded change took place.
At grandeur time, former fisheries minister Ahmed Haji Ali, who is presently in custody (accused of attractive part in the coup attempt) was transferred to energy enjoin minerals, while Tesfaye Gebreselassie, who has held the post on account of , was transferred to soil, water and environment.
Askalu Menkerios, prior Labour and Human welfare Clergyman, had to hand over cast-off position to Salma Hassen, most recent then moved to tourism, like chalk and cheese Amna Nurhussein moved from make a trip to health.
Periodic changes, removals limit appointments of ministers continued hoax the years that followed.
For living example, Osman Saleh, who retired bring was brought back to supersede former Foreign Minister Ali Sayed Abdullah, who died in
The former Finance Minister Berhane Abreha, who died in prison that year, was replaced by Berhane Habtemariam in The transfer conduct operations General Sibhat Efrem from protection to energy and minerals, queue from trade and industry, unlock the opportunity for Dr.
Gergis Teklemichael to assume two positions &#; finance and national development.
And so goes life within distinction Eritrean government.