Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Friday appointed the former intelligence head General Adem Mohammed as the new the chief of staff of Ethiopian Army, the post which has been vacant since the assassination of General Seare Mekonnen by his bodyguard last Saturday, reported Africa News.
Until now, Adem Mohammed served as head of the intelligence agency, the National Intelligence and Security Service, NISS. He is replaced by Demelash Gebremichael. Lieutenant General Mola Hailemariam has also been appointed as Chief of Ground Forces.
The reshuffle follows a failed coup attempt in the northern region of Amhara last week that led to the killing of top officials including Amhara’s regional president, his top adviser, and the attorney general. A few hours later in Addis Ababa, army chief Seare Mekonnen was shot dead by his bodyguard. A retired general visiting him was also killed.
More than 255 suspects have been arrested in Amhara and Addis Ababa in the wake of the weekend attacks. The police have also arrested the spokesman of a political party that supports the Amhara ethnic group.
Prime Minister Abiy’s office said the evidence was uncovered that a series of weekend attacks in the capital Addis Ababa and northern Amhara state, had been part of “a larger plan”.
“So far, 212 people in Amhara region and 43 people in Addis Ababa have been arrested in connection with the attempted coup,” a spokesperson for Abiy told reporters in the capital. “We have uncovered the weekend attacks were part of a larger plan and discovered documents,” to this effect.
Arrests are likely to continue as investigations are still ongoing related to the coup.
The government referred to the attack in Bahir Dar as a coup attempt led by former General Asamnew Tsige. Asamnew was killed by security forces on Monday.
