Gen Samora Yunis has been replaced as Ethiopia’s chief of defence staff.
A
top aide to the country’s new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described the outgoing
chief of staff as Ethiopia’s “most prominent military figure”.
In a tweet he said that Gen Seare Mekonen would be his replacement.
The move comes a few months before Gen Samora was due to retire.
He fought with the rebels who overthrew Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991 and brought Meles Zenawi to power.
For the next few decades he was Mr Meles’ close ally and the key figure in the much-feared security establishment.
He leaves his post just two months after Mr Abiy came into office in a bid to end anti-government protests.
The prime minister has brought in many reforms since April.
The BBC's Emmanuel Igunza in the capital, Addis Ababa, says the retirement of Gen Samora gives Mr Abiy an opportunity to redefine the relationship with the military, which has always been seen to be deeply involved in politics and the economy.
Earlier this week, the governing coalition announced it would fully accept and implement the peace deal that ended its border war with Eritrea.
This will end a dispute with Eritrea that sparked Africa's deadliest border war in 1998.
In a tweet he said that Gen Seare Mekonen would be his replacement.
The move comes a few months before Gen Samora was due to retire.
He fought with the rebels who overthrew Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991 and brought Meles Zenawi to power.
For the next few decades he was Mr Meles’ close ally and the key figure in the much-feared security establishment.
He leaves his post just two months after Mr Abiy came into office in a bid to end anti-government protests.
The prime minister has brought in many reforms since April.
The BBC's Emmanuel Igunza in the capital, Addis Ababa, says the retirement of Gen Samora gives Mr Abiy an opportunity to redefine the relationship with the military, which has always been seen to be deeply involved in politics and the economy.
Earlier this week, the governing coalition announced it would fully accept and implement the peace deal that ended its border war with Eritrea.
This will end a dispute with Eritrea that sparked Africa's deadliest border war in 1998.
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