Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Addis standard1
Published on 2024-03-22 13:34:21
Ambassador Teshome Toga, the Commissioner of the National Rehabilitation Commission (NRC), recently resigned from his position citing personal reasons. He had been in this role since January 2023 but stepped down on 13th March after his request to not continue as Commissioner was accepted by the government.
In his place, Temesgen Tilahun, the former deputy commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) and a former foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has been appointed as the new Commissioner. Additionally, Tesfalem Yihedego has taken over as the Deputy Commissioner of Logistics and Management, replacing Dr. Atinkut Mezgebe effective 21st March. Dr. Atinkut, a former Central Committee member of the TPLF, resigned from the party upon assuming his position at the commission.
The NRC was established by the Ethiopian government in November 2022 to aid in the demobilization and reintegration of approximately 370,000 ex-combatants across the country. However, the commission has been facing challenges due to a lack of funding, with the initial estimated cost exceeding 29.7 billion Br.
Ambassador Teshome’s most recent public appearance was earlier this month when the European Union pledged 16 million Euros to support the Commission’s efforts in disarming, demobilizing, and reintegrating ex-combatants in eight regions of Ethiopia. A new board has been appointed to oversee the Commission’s activities, with Dr. Gideon Timotheos, the Minister of Justice, leading the board along with five senior officials as members, and the new Commissioner serving as the secretariat.
Overall, these recent changes in leadership at the NRC highlight the ongoing efforts to address the challenges faced by the Commission in carrying out its important mandate. Despite the obstacles, the commitment to supporting ex-combatants in their transition back to civilian life remains a top priority for the Ethiopian government.
Read the original article on Addis Standard
