Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus were once seen as influential African leaders. However, their relationship has deteriorated dramatically, with newly leaked Ethiopian government documents suggesting that the Abiy administration attempted to undermine Tedros with allegations of embezzlement and sexual misconduct ahead of his reappointment at the WHO in 2022. Tedros, who denies these allegations and has not faced any charges, fears for his safety and the safety of his family if he were to return to Ethiopia.
The animosity between Abiy and Tedros can be traced back to November 2020 when Abiy declared war on the ruling party of the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia. Tedros, a Tigrayan, had previously been dedicated to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the party that governed Ethiopia for three decades. During this conflict, Tedros, based in Geneva, was deeply concerned about the worsening global pandemic, with millions of COVID-19 cases and deaths reported worldwide.
As reports of atrocities in the Tigray conflict emerged, Tedros expressed his hope for peace and urged for unity. However, on the same day, the Ethiopian army accused him of procuring weapons for the TPLF without providing any evidence. Tedros denied these allegations. In June 2021, the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance's Financial Intelligence Centre initiated an investigation into Tedros. The leaked documents reveal allegations of embezzlement, sexual misconduct, and illicit property purchases during his tenure as Ethiopia's health minister from 2005 to 2012.
Tedros in an interview dismissed the investigation as part of a "smear campaign" based on his ethnicity and political affiliation. He shared that his family in Ethiopia had faced harassment and mentioned incidents where his property was confiscated. Meanwhile, the Ethiopian government, the finance ministry, and the justice ministry declined to comment on the matter.
The leaked documents, compiled over several months in 2021, include bank statements, witness accounts, and correspondence among investigators, witnesses, and banks. They reveal a targeted effort by the Ethiopian government to criminalize Tedros, a move criticized by his former colleagues and supporters. Despite the investigation, no charges have been filed against him.
The allegations against Tedros purportedly came from officials of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute and the Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Agency, institutions established by Tedros himself to improve procurement procedures. However, those who worked closely with Tedros, including former Ethiopian Health Minister Amir Aman and former Unicef official Alan Court, praised his dedication to public health and his efforts to enhance procurement processes.
The leaked documents also accuse Tedros of harassment and assault towards women, with claims that he promoted those who acquiesced to his advances and punished those who rejected him. However, no evidence is provided to support these claims. The documents further mention the alleged involvement of the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation in facilitating the supposed scheme, but the foundation did not respond to inquiries.
Throughout this ordeal, Tedros and his family have faced numerous challenges. Their home in Ethiopia was raided, and his relatives experienced harassment and even detainment. Tedros has been unable to contact his family directly and fears for their safety. The strained relationship between Tedros and the Ethiopian government has made it impossible for him to return home, despite his desire to do so.
As the investigation lost momentum and peace talks between the government and the Tigrayan liberation organization commenced in November 2022, the Ethiopian officials involved in the investigation suggest that it is no longer active. In the aftermath, Tedros was reappointed as the WHO Director-General for a second term, despite opposition from Ethiopian diplomats in Geneva.
Tedros's experience highlights the tumultuous power dynamics and personal vendettas that can overshadow international leadership in times of crisis. While he remains committed to global health and the betterment of his homeland, the circumstances do not currently allow him to return to Ethiopia.