New army chief named

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has appointed Maj-Gen Samora Yenus, as the new chief of staff of the Ethiopian army, Ethiopian radio, monitored by the, BBC reported on 26 May. Yenus replaces the former chief of staff, Maj-Gen Tsadkan Gebretensay, who was dismissed on 26 May. Also dismissed was the commander of the Ethiopian air force, Maj-Gen Abebe Teklehaimanot, but no replacement was named. Tsadkan served as chief of staff for the past 10 years, while Abebe had held his command for seven years, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA), said on 27 May. The dismissal of the two generals came as a surprise, since both men played crucial roles in the Ethiopia-Eritrea war, said DPA. The new chief of staff was formerly the head of the Ethiopian ground forces. Meanwhile, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin was appointed on 22 May chairman of Ethiopian Airlines, the English language ‘Addis Tribune’, monitored by the BBC, said on 25 May. The position was previously held by Siye Abraha, one of the 12 dissidents suspended from the politburo of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), said the paper.