Top Ethiopia Gov’t official flees country

July 15th, 2009 | EthioPolitics.com |

Ermias Legesse

Ethiopia’s state minister for communication affairs has refused to return home from the United Sates after an official visit, a top government official told AFP Wednesday.

Ermias Legesse was issued with an 11-day visa and left for the US in the second week of June, but has not returned.

“He didn’t report back, ” said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“He has chosen to stay there. It seems he has dreamt about going to the US,”

‘The Reporter’ newspaper however is quoting sources who are close to Ermias saying that he chose to stay in the US because he was unable to do his job freely and was uncomfortable with the infighting amongst government officials.

Ermias, who is in his thirties, was appointed to his position earlier this year.

The US embassy in Addis Ababa declined to comment on the matter, but a diplomatic source said Ermias “has not been reachable for several days.”

AFP/EP