He was re-elected Chairman and his closest associates remain unchallenged in the Politbureau: Tewolde Woldemariam head of the TPLF's organisational department and now Deputy Chairman; Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin; and the Chief of Staff Major General Tsadkan Gebretensae...
Yet after a statement by Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin that Ethiopia did after all support the Cairo agreement the NSC announced on 6 January that it had resolved its ‘minor' differences and its members would all go to Baidoa...
Ambassadors from the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (which has dropped the word 'Drought') attended various Sodere sessions; Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin paid several visits and attended the final session: within a few days Prime Minister Meles Zenawi had offered public backing...