Ethiopian official defects to the US

July16, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — Ethiopia’s deputy minister for state communication affairs has refused to return back home following his official visit to the United States last month.

According to reliable information obtained by Sudan Tribune, the Ethiopian government top official, Ermiyas Legesse, has sent an email to people close to him saying that he is not coming back. He also said that he has sent a resignation letter to the Prime Minister’s office.

A government official said that his defection was not beyond his dream to live in the US and not politically motivated. But separate close friends indicated that Ermiyas was not at ease with working procedures at the government office where he had been working.

Legesse told his friends that he has chosen to stay in the US because he finds it hard to freely carry out his duty. He further said that he would rather not continue working with the government, in an atmosphere where there is “internal fighting” among top government officials.

Government communications minister, Bereket Simon was unreachable at the moment for comments.

Ermiyas left for the US in Mid-June under government assignment and to be at a graduation ceremony for his MA distance education studies.

Ermyias, in his thirties, was appointed to his position earlier this year.

Following his refusal to return some opposition groups said that the man, if he speaks out off his chest, could publicize what the oppositions referred it as “fabricated charges” of government up on opponents and the internal mess the ruling party is in.

(ST)