Daniel Kibret

Daniel Kibret
ዳንኤል ክብረት
Social Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister
Incumbent
Assumed office
23 June 2018
PresidentSahle-Work Zewde
Taye Atske Selassie
Prime MinisterAbiy Ahmed
Personal details
Political partyProsperity Party
Occupation
  • Politician
  • deacon
  • author

Daniel Kibret (Amharic: ዳንኤል ክብረት) is an Ethiopian politician and former deacon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Being one of founders of Mahibere Kidusan (a spiritual association in the EOTC), his sermons, in depth writings and powerful oratorical speeches both within and outside the church has attracted millions of Ethiopians domestically and around the world. Having writing 35 books in his over 30 years service, Deacon Daniel Kibret was given the honorary title "Muhaze Tibebat" which is an ancient Ethiopic (Ge'ez) language means flowing of wisdom.

When the unexpected political dynamic changed in March 2018, the new elected Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed selected him to be his advisor on social matters. In the election of 2021 he ran an independent campaign and won a parliamentary seat representing a region in Addis Ababa. He is also the director of state-owned news agency Ethiopian News Agency.

Daniel kibret is able to cultivate and grab the attention of both his supporters and those that strongly disagree with him. In only 6 years of service in the political stage, Deacon Daniel Kibret is able to cement his footprints both in the Orthodox Church and Ethiopian politics.

Career

Daniel Kibret was ordained as a deacon to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and became a preacher in Mahibere Kidusan.[1][2][3]

On 23 June 2018, he was nominated as a director of the Ethiopian News Agency after a House of Federation vote. From 285 members, 126 MPs were against his nomination.[4][5][6] Kibret denied being a member of the Prosperity Party, instead saying he is an advisor of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on social affairs.

Controversies

Daniel Kibret has been criticized for his religious tendency from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.[7] In 2021, the United States sanctioned Kibret for referring to Tigrayan as "devil" amidst tension during the Tigray War.[8][9] He also called on Ethiopians to "exterminate Woyane" on 24 January 2022 during a speech, which was shared on social media.[10]

In March 2022, Daniel Kibret responded to a controversial comment by Abune Mathias, in which he said "the [Tigray] war was started to decimate Tigreans from the face of the earth". Kibret responded to the Patriarch that he intended to support the H.R. 6600, which was sponsored by American representative Tom Malinowski.[3]

References

  1. ^ Goitom (2021-09-23). "Daniel Kibret: A Dangerous Way to Make a Living". Globe News Net. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  2. ^ "ETHIOPIA : Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarch prompts Abiy's adviser, Daniel Kibret's ire". Africa Intelligence. 2022-03-23. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  3. ^ a b "Daniel Kibret responds to Abune Mathias' dangerous claims". Borkena Ethiopian News. 2022-03-20. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  4. ^ "Record Number MPs Vote against Daniel Kibret's Place in Media Board". Addis Fortune. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  5. ^ "US blasts rhetoric by ally of Ethiopia PM who compared Tigrayans to the devil". Al Arabiya English. 2021-09-20. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  6. ^ "HPR appoints board members, chair for Ethiopian Press Agency". Walta Info. 2018-07-23. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  7. ^ "Daniel Kibret: biased? What exactly is his role in Abiy's gov't? Why he is controversial?". Borkena Ethiopian News. 2020-03-30. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  8. ^ "The United States targets Daniel Kibret ,member of Ethiopian Parliament". Borkena Ethiopian News. 2021-09-24. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  9. ^ "Daniel Kibret's Remarks on Church's Bishops Appointment Sparks Calls to Stay Out of Religious Matters". Addis Insight. 2023-01-24. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  10. ^ Goitom (2022-01-24). "Ethiopian Prime Minister chief adviser doubles down his call for extermination of Tigrayans, this time more explicitly". Globe News Net. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved 2023-08-12.