Hailu controversially delegates Abayneh as acting chairman

The executive committee of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) has sent a cautioning notice to Dr. Berhanu Nega telling him to refrain from issuing statements that are “contrary to the beliefs and principles” of the party.

According to reliable sources, the reaction from the executive committee comes following Berhanu’s declaration that everybody in the party should go their own separate ways.

“Berhanu was not authorized to make such statements. He was taking matters in his own hands without consulting other members of the party,” the sources said.

A split within the party has been an ongoing saga, ever since it went public after the top leaders were released from jail and headed to the United States.

Two weeks ago, the chairman Hailu Shawel, who has been at loggerheads with members of the supreme council namely Berhanu Nega, announced that he had suspended a number of them including the first vice-chairwoman Birtukan Mideksa.

On Monday, with the stroke of the pen, Hailu delegated Abayneh Berhanu as the acting chairman of the party.

The chairman, in his letter dated December 24, 2007, said that until such time that he completes his medical treatment in the US, Abayneh, who is a member of the executive committee, will take his place and run the activities of the party.

“Until the time I fully recover and return, I have, in accordance with Article 24 sub-article 1 of the bylaw of the party, delegated Ato Abayneh Berhanu. He will facilitate the process of retaining the party’s name and other legal affairs as the well as opening of our closed offices and calling for a meeting of the general assembly," Hailu's letter said.

“Even if Hailu’s oversight of which article really applies to the case is to be accepted, and the somehow appropriate Article 25 sub-article 1 was to be cited, it is still doubtful that Hailu has really the right to take the decision he has taken and delegate an acting chairman,” informed sources told The Reporter.

According to these same sources, since the legality of the suspension of the first vice-chairwoman itself is questionable, and since the provision in the bylaw of the party concerning delegation of duties and appointments does not say that the chairperson can appoint an acting chairperson, Hailu’s decision remains controversial.