Eritrea's Deputy Head of Mission to the embassy in Kenya, Mr. Teweldemedhin Tesfamariam, was arrested after he was recalled back to Eritrea. In his capacity as deputy, Mr. Tewelde Medhin had served as press spokesperson for the Horn of Africa region for years. He is said to be in jail with Mr. Mohammed Aman, the head of the economic office of the Central Province ("Zoba Maekel"). The reason for their arrest is unknown. With the arrest of Mr. Tewelde Medhin, the Eritrean government has begun giving a higher profile to its long-time ambassador to Kenya, Mr Mohammed Ali Imaro.
Also recently arrested is Mr. Haleqa Mebrahtu, an intelligence officer. The reason for his detention is unknown. After freezing Mr. Abdella Mussa, the director of Eritrea's immigration department, for months, the government has replaced him by Brigadier General Abraham Andom. Meanwhile, the position of Police Commissioner is still vacant. The last occupant of the post, Brigadier General Mussa Rab'a, was dispatched to Denkalia shortly after Semere Kesete's escape in broad daylight from the central jail. Meanwhile, Gedab has learned that Mr. Idris Osman Jeme'e, the Eritrean ambassador to Abu Dhabi, and Mr Abdu Hejji, the Eritrean ambassador to Denmark, have refused the government's new assignments to Yemen and Pakistan respectively. The government has not named their replacements. Two former ambassadors who have since resigned, Mr. Mohammed Nur Ahmed and Mr. Abdella Degoul are holding talks with Eritrean citizens and opposition figures as well as Sudanese officials in Khartoum. The two were recently interviewed by Radio Umdurman, Sudan's main radio outlet. Gedab has also learned that the recent visit of Eritrea's Foreign Minister, Mr. Ali Said, to Pakistan was related to the government's interest in acquiring weapons, specifically light arms, from Pakistan's military complex. |
