Temesgen Tiruneh
{{Short description|Ethiopian politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Temesgen Tiruneh
| image = Official Portrait of Temesgen Tiruneh.jpg
| native_name = ተመስገን ጥሩነህ
| country = Ethiopia
| office2 = Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia
| successor2 =
| predecessor2 = Demeke Mekonnen
| termstart2 = 8 February 2024
| office3 = Director General of the National Intelligence and Security Service
| termstart3 = 8 November 2020
| termend3 = 8 February 2024
| predecessor3 = Demelash Gebremichael
| successor3 = Redwan Hussein
| primeminister3 = Abiy Ahmed
| president3 = Sahle-Work Zewde
| nominator3 =
| office4 = Chief Administrator of Amhara Region
| termstart4 = 22 July 2019
| termend4 = 8 November 2020
| predecessor4 = Lake Ayalew (acting)
Ambachew Mekonnen
| successor4 = Agegnehu Teshager
| office5 = Director General of the Information Network Security Agency
| termstart5 = 20 April 2018
| termend5 = 6 February 2020
| predecessor5 = Tekleberhan Woldearegay
| successor5 = Shumete Gizaw
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Bichena, Gojjam Province, Ethiopian Empire
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Prosperity Party
| otherparty =
| education = Microlink Information Technology College {{small|(BA)}}
University of Greenwich {{small|(MA)}}
| spouse =
| awards =
| website =
| allegiance = {{flag|Ethiopia}}
| branch = {{army|Ethiopia}}
| serviceyears = 1991–2010
| rank = File:13.EA-LTC.svg Major
| unit = Intelligence Corps
| commands = Information Network Security Agency
| battles = Eritrean–Ethiopian War
Tigray War
}}
Temesgen Tiruneh (Amharic: ተመስገን ጥሩነህ) is an Ethiopian politician who is serving as the current Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia since 8 February 2024. He previously served as the director general of National Intelligence and Security Service of Ethiopia since 2020.{{Cite web|title=PM Abiy sweeps aside leadership of army, intelligence and police|url=https://eritreahub.org/pm-abiy-sweeps-aside-leadership-of-army-intelligence-and-police|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108140658/https://eritreahub.org/pm-abiy-sweeps-aside-leadership-of-army-intelligence-and-police|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 8, 2020|website=Eritrea Hub}}{{Cite web |date=28 January 2024 |title=Ethiopia's deputy PM Demeke to be replaced by spy chief Temesgen |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ethiopias-deputy-pm-demeke-be-replaced-by-spy-chief-temesgen-2024-01-26/ |website=Reuters}}{{Cite web |title=Ethiopia: Temesgen Tiruneh, ex-spy boss turned foreign minister |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/335391/ethiopia-temesgen-tiruneh-ex-spy-boss-turned-foreign-minister/ |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=The Africa Report.com |language=en}}
On 8 November 2020, Temesgen Tiruneh was appointed to the position of director general of NISS by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in the midst of the Tigray War. He was the former president of Amhara state.{{Cite web|title=PM Abiy sweeps aside leadership of army, intelligence and police|url=https://eritreahub.org/pm-abiy-sweeps-aside-leadership-of-army-intelligence-and-police|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108140658/https://eritreahub.org/pm-abiy-sweeps-aside-leadership-of-army-intelligence-and-police|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 8, 2020|website=Eritrea Hub}}{{Cite web|last=Endeshaw|first=David|date=July 27, 2019|title=Temesgen Tiruneh named Amhara region head|url=https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/article/temesgen-tiruneh-named-amhara-region-head?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=wh02m_eYbHeVr7STriq6nWkaYeUvyPfga344ZDAU_iY-1636322353-0-gaNycGzNCb0|access-date=July 27, 2019|website=The Reporter Ethiopia}} He was replaced from his former position of Amhara regional state president by Agegnehu Teshager.{{Cite web|date=November 8, 2020|title=Ethiopia reshuffles top officials as Tigray conflict grows|url=https://apnews.com/article/abiy-ahmed-africa-ethiopia-kenya-civil-wars-d8d6d6d2fdc993f5452b705ace378ff4|access-date=November 8, 2020|website=AP}}{{Cite web|date=November 8, 2020|title=Agegnehu Replaces Temesgen as President of Amhara Region|url=https://ethiopianmonitor.com/2020/11/08/agegnehu-replaces-temesgen-as-president-of-amhara-region/|access-date=November 8, 2020|website=Ethiopian Monitor}}
Early life and education
Temesegen Tiruneh was born in the small town of Bichena, Gojjam Province, Ethiopia. He attended primary and secondary school at Belay Zeleke school. He then joined the Ethiopian National Defense Force where he took primary military intelligence training. He later joined the Microlink Information Technology College where he graduated with a BA in Computer Science. He later attended University of Greenwich and graduated with MA in Transformational leadership.
Political career
= President of Amhara Region =
On 27 July 2019, Temesgen has been named as the head of Amhara Region amidst the crisis following the June 22 coup attempt. He has worked as a security advisor of the Information Network Security Agency (INSA) from 20 April 2018.{{Cite web |last=Endeshaw |first=Dawit |date=2019-07-27 |title=Temesgen Tiruneh Named Amhara Region Head {{!}} The Reporter {{!}} Latest Ethiopian News Today |url=https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/8363/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=www.thereporterethiopia.com |language=en-US}}
= Director of the National Intelligence and Security Service =
Temesgen as the director of the leading intelligence agency has said many statements of security treat. He publicly said that "The TPLF Junta dreamt of disrupting the central government by mobilizing its lapdogs it dubbed “Federalist Forces”, but, things have gone the other way around as all Ethiopians stand in unison against it.”
Temesgen also made another statement vowing to destroy the TPLF from the face of the earth. He also said that the NISS was teaming up with the Federal Police and the National Defense force to defeat the terrorist TPLF.{{Cite web|date=August 25, 2021|title=Intelligence And Security Chief Vows To Eliminate Terrorist Groups, Their Creeds From Ethiopia|url=https://www.fanabc.com/english/intelligence-and-security-chief-vows-to-eliminate-terrorist-groups-their-creeds-from-ethiopia/|access-date=August 25, 2021|website=Fanabc}}{{Cite web|date=August 10, 2021|title=NISS Director Says Federal, Regional Governments Team Up To Neutralize Terrorist TPLF Soon|url=https://www.fanabc.com/english/niss-director-says-federal-regional-governments-team-up-to-neutralize-terrorist-tplf-soon/|access-date=August 10, 2021|website=Fanabc}} Temesgen said in a statement “This divisive rhetoric is TPLF’s destructive tool that it has been implementing since its very inception." He also said the TPLF are not here to destroy the Amhara people but the whole nation as a whole.{{Cite web|date=July 20, 2021|title=NISS Director General Calls For Collective Action To Foil Potential Threats Of TPLF|url=https://www.fanabc.com/english/niss-director-general-calls-for-collective-action-to-foil-potential-threats-of-tplf/|access-date=July 20, 2021|website=Fanabc}}
= Deputy Prime Minister =
On 8 February 2024, the House of People's Representatives (HoPR) appointed Temesgen as a deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, replacing Demeke Mekonnen who announced his intention for resignation on 26 January.{{Cite web |date=6 March 2024 |title=Breaking: Intelligence chief Temesgen Tiruneh appointed deputy prime minister |url=https://addisstandard.com/breaking-intelligence-chief-temesgen-tiruneh-appointed-deputy-prime-minister/#:~:text=Breaking%3A%20Intelligence%20chief%20Temesgen%20Tiruneh%20appointed%20deputy%20prime%20minister,-4%20weeks%20ago&text=Addis%20Abeba%20%E2%80%93%20The%20House%20of,NISS)%20as%20deputy%20Prime%20Minister. |website=Addis Standard}}{{Cite web |date=6 March 2024 |title=Ethiopia intelligence head Temesgen approved as deputy prime minister |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ethiopia-intelligence-head-temesgen-approved-deputy-prime-minister-2024-02-08/ |website=Reuters}}
References
{{reflist}}
Category:Ethiopian government officials
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Ethiopian politicians
Category:Politicians of the Tigray war
{{Ethiopia-politician-stub}}