Ethiopia pulls support for its WHO boss

Ethiopia’s Government will not support the re-election of Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, its national, for his second term as DG of the World Health Organisation, as political differences in the country played out on the world stage. The Nation reports that in a bizarre letter to the WHO executive board, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Ghebreyesus, himself a former Foreign Minister, threatened the organisational integrity of the WHO because he has taken sides with a proscribed group in his native country. ‘He has not lived up to the integrity and professional expectations required from his office and position,’ says a letter sent to the board. ‘He has been interfering with the internal affairs of Ethiopia, including Ethiopia’s relations with the state of Eritrea … (and) continues as an active member and supporter of the TPLF (Tigray People's Liberation Front) that is proscribed as a terrorist group by the Ethiopian Parliament.’ Ethiopia said it wants the board to investigate his conduct, saying he had violated his ‘professional and legal responsibility’. The letter was sent ahead of a crucial 150th session of the board when it will ‘screen’ the candidacy of Ghebreyesus for his second term. The board is due to meet for its annual meeting on 24-29 January to agree on the agenda for the World Health Assembly as well as vet candidates for the upcoming elections for director-general due in May during the 75th World Health Assembly. Ghebreyesus denied siding with the TPLF, and claimed his own family had been hurt in the conflict.