Former defence minister arrested for corruption

Ethiopian police have arrested some 20 heads of government institutions and businessmen on suspicion of involvement in corruption, Ethiopian news agencies reported. The arrests included Siye Abraha, leader of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) dissident group, which recently split with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s ruling cadre, Ethiopian radio said. The former defence minister is reportedly accused of using his influence to gain “special benefits” for his family. His three brothers, Asefa, Mehretab and Fiseha were also taken into custody. Diplomatic sources in Addis Ababa told IRIN there was general expectation that this was just the start of the campaign against corruption and that it was likely to continue for some time. The crackdown was also likely to become more political in nature, sources said. The Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) quoted the office of the prime minister as saying the arrests “would herald the beginning of a series of steps outlined by the government against corruption”. High-ranking officials of the Ethiopian Privatisation Agency - including Bitew Belay, the former head of the regional affairs bureau in the office of the prime minister - who had “failed to heed government directives”, had also been arrested, Ethiopian radio said. Commercial Bank of Ethiopia officials Hailu Legese and Mulugeta Gebremedhin had been arrested on suspicion of issuing illegal loans to businesses and individuals. Prominent businessmen were also taken into custody during the roundup, accused of involvement in the alleged corruption of government officials. In a state address on 27 May marking 10 years since the overthrow of the Derg regime, President Negaso Gidada said efforts were under way to stamp out corruption: “After successfully reversing Eritrea’s aggression, our government has focused on the fight against corruption,” he said.