Ethiopia Elections-Opposition PR Head Disappears Ahead of Election

High-ranking party official who represented the All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP) in the just ended televised debate for the upcoming general election, Tesfahun Alemnew, is confirmed to have disappeared from his office two weeks ago with social media reports claiming that he has joined rebel forces based in Eritrea.

The Unity for Democracy and Justice party hold a news conference in Addis Ababa
Tesfahun, who was the public relations head of the AEUP until the date of his disappearance, was recently seen representing his party in the televised debates on the agenda topic of urban and industrial development policy. According to reports, he was seen to have been far more emotional while presenting his ideas and criticizing the ruling party and was quoted saying that the ruling party has completely failed to provide basic services including infrastructure to urban areas.

The AEUP on the other hand claims to have no knowledge of the circumstances of his disappearance and that the party came to learn the fact from social media reports like everybody else. “The last time he came to the office was two weeks ago to attend a party meeting which was held at the party’s head office located around Tewodros Square. Ever since, the party has no communication and information about his whereabouts,” Abebaw Mehari, president of AEUP told The Reporter.

Abebaw further stated, “We don’t know where he is right now, but like everybody else the party has learned from the social media that he left the country and that it was his own personal decision”.

“The decision is personal and has got nothing to do with party, we still believe in peaceful struggle to bring changes to the country and that’s why the party is engaged in the election although conditions are not suitable,” the president said.

All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP); Mamushet Amare, candidate and secretary general of AEUP; and Gebretsadik
According to Abebaw, Tesfahun joined AEUP some ten years ago. He joined the party in the Amhara Regional States Gojjam area, one of the strongholds of AEUP. The president also told The Reporter that Tesfahun climbed the party ladder through time starting with the position of party affairs head in west Gojjam branch office.

The president describes Tesfahun as a diligent worker and at the same time an active participant over various issues in meetings conducted by both the party and other organizations.

Tesfahun, 30, earned his first degree in English from Arbamich University in 2009. He was not the only one who has been reported to have attempted to flee to Eritrea in recent times, however. According to police, just last month, three members of Semayawi (Blue) Party have been apprehended while trying to cross the border to Eritrea with expressed purpose of joining the rebel forces there. Police have actually opened charge files on the three, Birhanu Tekleyared, Fikremariam Asmamaw and Eyerusalem Tesfaw, and currently is on its second extension granted by the court to complete its investigation and formally institute charges.

Ethiopians…..
Social media reports also indicated that he went to Eritrea to join a handful of rebel groups based there and have been outlawed by the government. According to official statements, Eritrea offer sanctuary to Ethiopian rebel groups which were designated as a terrorist organization by the country’s lawmaking body. These organizations present in Eritrea include Ginbot 7, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF).

Please follow and like us:
error
Source: The Reporter

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Widgetized Section

Go to Admin » appearance » Widgets » and move a widget into Advertise Widget Zone