AU chief sacks security head after Ethiopia questions loyalty

The African Union has dismissed its security head, an Ethiopian national, Gebreegziabher Mebratu Melese, after the Ethiopian government accused him of disloyalty to the country amid its conflict with a restive region that threatens to destabilize the horn of Africa.

Office of the bloc’s chair, Moussa Mahamat, ordered the dismissal of Melese in a memo.

The order came after a November 10 letter from Ethiopia’s defense ministry raising its concerns over his loyalties.

An African Union official confirmed the authenticity of the two letters to newsmen.