Ethiopia withdraws support for WHO's Chief Tedros over alleged support to TPLF

Ethiopia on January 14 directed angst at WHO and said that it will not support re-election of its national Dr. Tedros hanom Ghebreyesus for a second term as director-general of World Health Organization (WHO) for supporting proscribed Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and Tigrayan rebels forces. In a letter to WHO Executive Board, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that Dr. Tedros, a former foreign minister of Ethiopia, “threatens organisational integrity of WHO because he has taken sides with a proscribed group in his native country,” East African news agency that obtained letter reported. 

“He [WHO’s Dr. Tedros] has not lived up to integrity and professional expectations required from his office and position,” letter sent to Board re. “He has been interfering with internal affairs of Ethiopia, including Ethiopia’s relations with state of Eritrea continues as an active member and supporter of TPLF that is proscribed as a terrorist group by Ethiopian parliament,” it ded. 

“Through his acts, (Tedros) spre harmful misinformation and compromised WHO's reputation, independence and credibility,” Ethiopia's ministry of foreign affairs' letter re. 

Tedros violated 'professional and legal responsibility'

WHO is currently chaired by Dr. Patrick Amoth, Director-General for Health, Ministry of Health of Kenya, and a Kenyan Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. He has been appointed to World Health Organisation (WHO) Executive Board for a period of one year. He took over at 149th session of WHO Executive Board on June 02, 2021, by outgoing Chair India’s Dr. Harsh Vardhan. On Friday, Ethiopia urged WHO Executive Board, 34-member body of WHO, to investigate Dr. Tedros’ conduct for violating his “professional and legal responsibility” at 150th session of Board when it will review Dr. Tedros’ performance for his second term as director-general. 

Ethiopia h nominated Tedros hanom Ghebreyesus to be he of UN health agency nearly four years ago, but it now says that he has failed to “live up to integrity and professional expectations required from his office." Tedros, an ethnic Tigrayan, h commented on escalating conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region as he h called for humanitarian access to conflict-ridden region and h condemned war crimes. “Nowhere in world are we witnessing hell like Tigray,” Tedros h said at a briefing condemning Ethiopian government for blocke of international access to Tigray that halted medical supply in war-torn region. Tedros h lambasted government stressing that UN agencies h access to Syria and Yemen even during worst conflicts recorded, ever. 

Ethiopia's letter comes ahe of WHO meeting scheduled for January 24-29 to decide global health body’s yearly agendas. A voting is due for May, which will be held at 75th World Health Assembly. Candidates nominated by Board will be subject to voting for position. Or African nations including Kenya, Rwanda, and Botswana also wrote to Board endorsing Dr. Tedros’ candidature. While Nairobi’s diplomats reportedly said that Kenya is supporting Dr Tedros to complete his maximum tour of two five-year terms because it is “Africa’s turn.” or nations are endorsing Tedros for his expertise in serving two critical disease outbreaks: Ebola epidemic in DRC in 2018, and coronavirus pandemic in late 2019.