News: PM Abiy appoints head of spy agency to replace slain army chief, two others
Addis Abeba, June 28/2019 – PM Abiy Ahmed has today appointed General Adem Mohammed, head of the National Intelligence & Security Service (NISS), as the new Chief of Staff of the National Defense Force. General Adem replaces slain General Seare Mekonnen, who was shot dead at his house on Saturday June 22 along with retired General Gezai Abera.
In Addition to replacing General Seare, PM Abiy also appointed Demelash Gebremichael, who was serving as the deputy of Gen. Adem at NISS in charge of internal security, to replace the outgoing General and become the head of NISS. A third appointment was given to Lt. Gen. Mola Hailemariam, who becomes Chief of Ground Forces of the national defense force.
Both Gen. Adem & Gen. Seare were appointed to their positions as head of NISS and army chief of staff respectively on June 07/2018.
Regarding the new head of NISS Demelash, prior to his last year appointment as deputy of Gen. Adem in charge of internal security, Demelash served as, among others, Chief of Security of Oromia regional state; Commissioner General of Oromia Police Commission; & Internal Security Advisor to the federal Police Commissioner. Demelash resigned from his position as member of the Central Committee of ODP to assume his position as deputy of gen. Adem.
Today’s third appointee is Lieutenant General Mola Hailemariam who became Chief of Ground Forces of the national defense force. Before today’s appointment, Lieutenant General Mola was chief of Special Operation of the National Defense Force. He once served as Commander of the Ethiopian Air Force. In recent months, Lieutenant General Mola is credited for restructuring ENDF’s regional commands by downsizing the number from six to four, one of the key restructurings conducted within ENDF since PM Abiy, who is also the commander-in-chief defense forces, became Prime Minister. AS