Se'are Mekonnen
Se'are Mekonnen | |
|---|---|
 Se'are during a military parade in February 2019 | |
| Native name | ሰዐረ መኮንን |
| Born | c. 1954[citation needed] Tigray, Ethiopian Empire |
| Died | 22 June 2019 (aged 64–65) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Allegiance |  Tigray People's Liberation Front Ethiopia |
| Service/ | Ethiopian National Defense Force |
| Years of service | ?–2019 † |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | Chief of General Staff |
| Battles/wars | Ethiopian Civil War Ethiopia-Eritrea War |
Se'are Mekonnen (Ge'ez: ሰዐረ መኮንን; c. 1954 – 22 June 2019) was an Ethiopian army officer. He was the Chief of General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force from 7 June 2018 until he was assassinated on 22 June 2019.[1]
Biography[]
A veteran of the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front during the Ethiopian Civil War, General Se'are served as head of the Army's Northern Command and of the Armed Forces’ joint education and training department.[2] He was appointed to the top post in the armed forces in 2018 by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, succeeding Samora Yunis.
Despite his partisan origins in the TPLF, Se'are was known to be an astute advocate for ethic regulation, professionalism , political neutrality of the armed forces during his tenure as military chief, quoted in 2018 that "Ethnicity, is potent force for destruction, and must be discarded as an obstacle for building a modern army".[3][2]
On 22 June 2019 while responding to a coup attempt in the Amhara region along with his aide, Major General (retired) Gizae Aberra, Army Chief of Staff General Seare was killed by his bodyguard according to government sources.
The government issued conflicting reports regarding the bodyguard who assassinated the general. The case has been pending trial as the suspect was treated for gun shot wounds he suffered, at the time of the alleged shoot out, with a security personal according to government sources.
Widow of the slain chief of staff of the , Colonel Tsige Alemayehu, who was present with the late General in their private resident, and, alerted the authorities at the time the shootings took place, according to her interviews conducted by BBC and the local media OMN, dispute that, despite her continuous efforts and failed attempts to reach out to the prosecutor, and, the attorney General office, to corporate and testify against the suspect in trial, she claim to has yet to be called as a government witness. She also pledged the local and international community to support her quest for a fair trial and justice for the late Army General.
The newly elected Ethiopian Prime Minister, Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali, who, was widely applauded by the international community, for his dramatic political reforms, and saw him winning the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, criticized by some observers who pointed out, the lack of leadership, ongoing conflicted reports that was carried out by the Prime Minister office, and an apparent lack of urgency, and transparency, during the trial proceedings displayed a significantly flawed judiciary system. There are a large number of unexplained murders of top officials under his reign.[4][5][6]
The government issued conflicting reports regarding the bodyguard who assassinated the general. Initial reports indicated that the suspect was arrested. The case has been pending trial[needs update] as the suspect was treated for gun shot wounds he suffered at the time of the alleged shoot out with a security personal according to government sources.[7]
References[]
- ^ Reuters (23 June 2019). "Attempted Coup Leaves Ethiopia's Army Chief and 3 Senior Officials Dead". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Fantahun, Arefaynie (7 June 2018). "Seare Mekonnen Named Ethiopian Military's Chief of Staff". Ethiopia Observer. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- ^ "Ethiopia: Army chief says defense force must be nonpartisan". Ethiopian Satellite Television. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
- ^ admin (23 June 2019). "June 23, 2018; June 22, 2019: Dates Which Will Live in Infamy in Ethiopia". Satenaw: Ethiopian News & Breaking News: Your right to know!. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- ^ Observer, Ethiopia (23 June 2019). "President of the Amhara region killed". Ethiopia Observer. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- ^ "Ethiopia army chief shot dead in 'coup bid' attacks". BBC News. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
- ^ "Ethiopia 'coup ringleader killed'". BBC. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
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- 1950s births
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- Ethiopian generals
- People from Tigray Region
- Assassinated Ethiopian people
- Assassinated military personnel
- 2010s murders in Ethiopia
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