The Deputy Commissionerfor Ethiopian prisons, Wedi Shambel, is a veritable strongman in this sector of the Ethiopian administration. A top official in the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF, hard core of the EPRDF in power in Addis Ababa), he had already forced his hierarchical superior, the Commissioner of Prisons, Mekonen Assegue, to tender his resignation a short while ago. Since then, he has played skilfully on the rivalry between two Tigrayans in the penitentiary administration, Abraham Welde Aregay (the man who had given the order to fire on a hundred prisoners in Kaliti supposed to be attempting escape) and General Aklilu. In the meantime, there is still no replacement for Mekonen Assegue. However, the strength of Wedi Shambel's power comes undoubtedly from his closeness to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. This was brought to light last year when Wedi Schambel's niece was involved in a road accident while on a trip to Ethiopia from Italy. It was then Meles Zenawi in person who ordered an aeroplane to take her back to Italy for medical attention and attributed a large sum of money to Wedi Shambel to accompany his niece. All of which caused many teeth to be gnashed among the top leaders of the TPLF. Even more so since Wedi Shambel is very poorly appreciated by the prison guards.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter

February 22, 2008