Ethiopian Minister Junedin seeks Asylum in Kenya

EthioChannel’s cover story on Junedin
EthioChannel, pro regime “private” Saturday Newspaper has today reported that
top ruling party official and “the Minister of Civil Service” has sought asylum in
neighboring Kenya. A political scientist with a close knowledge of the former
Minister that De Birhan talked to said that Junedin’s family couldn’t confirm the
Report and that he was not contactable.
Junedin Sado’s wife, Habiba Mohammed, is one of 29 people facing terrorism
charges related to protests by Muslims. Junedin last year published a letter in the
same newspaper defending his wife and criticizing the federal prosecutor’s charges.
In the letter, Mr. Junedin said that he had approached the Saudi Arabian Embassy
in his personal capacity to raise money to build a mosque to fulfil the wishes
expressed in the will of his late mother. The money recovered from his wife, Mr.
Junedin said, was meant for the mosque and not to fund terrorist activities.
Habiba was charged in October 2012 with funneling money from the Embassy of
Saudi Arabia to Islamist terror groups, at a hearing at the Ethiopian Federal High

Court.
Jundein was president of the Oromia Region from 28 October 2001 until 6 October
2005. He subsequently was appointed Transport and Communication Minister,
which is the office he was holding when Prime Minister Meles Zenawi moved him to
the Science and Technology Ministry October 2008. Following the 2010 general
election, Junedin was appointed Minister of Civil Service until November 2012
Prime Minister Hailemariam replaced him with another Minister in his Ministerial
reshuffle. The Oromo People’s Democratic Organisation (OPDO), a constituent of
the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, the ruling coalition had also
expelled him from the Organisation. It was reported that after “self criticism he was
readmitted and secured his posts”. He previously served as the president of the
OPDO. Although the Ethiopian Parliament had the plan of “removing Junedin’s
immunity” it in its agenda, it was not implemented to that effect. Junedin has also
been the Board Chairman of Addis Abeba University (AAU).
Junedin was one of the “most powerful” ruling Party officials who represented the
regime in various international and local duties. He was also one of the few Ministers
that represented the ruling Party in the Ethiopian General election debates. A close
confident and loyal of the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Junedin was one of the
ardent critics of Ethiopian opposition and Muslim critics/protesters, sources who
knows the Minister closely at the Oromia regional Council recount.
The paper also stated that it was not established how Junedin left for Kenya, so far.
Some sources close to De Birhan had informed us that Junedin had absconded to
Kenya with eight senior members of OPDO and colleagues. There are no details on
the whereabouts of his three underage children