Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has appointed Getachew Reda as his Advisor on East African Affairs, effective April 11, 2025, with the rank of minister.

The appointment follows Getachew’s tenure as Chief Administrator of the Tigray Interim Regional Administration, a role he assumed after the Pretoria peace agreement, which sought to end the conflict in the Tigray region. A contentious yet seasoned political figure, he previously served as Ethiopia’s Minister of Government Communication Affairs from 2012 to 2016 and was a spokesperson for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

Reactions to his new role remain mixed. Supporters view it as a pragmatic move to capitalize on his regional expertise, while critics point to his involvement in the Tigray war and his recent removal from the Tigray Interim Administration amid factional disputes within the TPLF. His appointment underscores the complexities of Ethiopia’s political landscape and fuels debate over the federal government’s broader strategy for managing regional affairs.