Ethiopia's ex-Foreign Affairs chief 'humbled' to serve, focused on WHO post

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ethiopia’s immediate past Foreign Affairs Minister says he fells humbled to have served his country, even as he steps up to vie for the position of Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr Tedros served in two ministerial capacities over the last twelve years. First, as a Minister of Health for eight years before taking the top diplomatic portfolio for the last four years.

In a Thursday afternoon facebook post on his official handle, Dr Tedros wrote: ‘‘I have been humbled to serve my country in many positions …… I am extremely grateful to the Ethiopian people and the Government of Ethiopia for allowing me to serve our great country.

‘‘I also thank the Government of Ethiopia for letting me now focus on my candidacy for Director-General of the World Health Organization.

I thank the Government of Ethiopia for letting me now focus on my candidacy for Director-General of the World Health Organization.

— Tedros Adhanom (@DrTedros) November 3, 2016

He added that he was grateful for the support of his leadership and continued partnership and collaboration going forward. ‘‘Together we can unite the world to attain universal health coverage & achieve the Strategic Development Goals,’‘ he concluded.

In his place, Workneh Gebeyehu, who was formerly Transport Minister is now Minister of Foreign Affairs. Ethiopia’s foreign relations have taken a hit in the past year following heavy security clampdown on anti-government protesters in the Oromo and Amhara regions.

Dr. Tedros will compete with five other candidates proposed by Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the position. The election of a new WHO boss has been necessitated by the imminent exit of Margaret Chan.