REDAE HALEFOM WELDESELASSIE
Beijing,China
Summary
Senior public administrator and scholar with 19 years of leadership experience spanning central and regional (provincial) government administration, strategic communication, public relations, and policy research in Ethiopia. Currently a doctoral researcher simultaneously pursuing PhDs in International Relations (UIBE, Beijing) and Social Anthropology (Mekelle University, Ethiopia). Author of two books and numerous commentaries on Ethiopian politics, identity, and the Horn of Africa affairs. Dedicated expert in conflict-sensitive communication, regional governance, and post-conflict institutional recovery, with proven capacity to lead large bureaus, advise senior political leadership, and shape public policy narratives during periods of national crisis.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Head, Communication Affairs
Interim Regional Administration of Tigrai Regional State
04.2023 - 05.2025
- Led regional communication strategy during a critical post-conflict transition, advising the Interim Administration on public messaging, media management, and international narrative environment.
- Coordinated communication between the Interim Administration and the wider public, between the Interim Administration and the federal government, between the Interim Administration and the International Community.
- Restructuring the regional media and communication environment and rebuild institutional credibility of the media industry and the communication at large.
- Oversee strategical leadership of regional state owned media houses.
Head
Communication Bureau of Tigrai Regional State
06.2022 - 04.2023
- Led regional government communication during one of the most sensitive and volatile political atmospheres of Ethiopia’s recent History.
- Oversee public information dissemination, press briefings, and stakeholder engagement.
- Oversee strategical leadership of regional state-owned media houses.
Administrator
Southern Tigrai Zone (Prefecture), Tigrai, Ethiopia
Tigrai, Ethiopia
10.2019 - 06.2022
- Served as chief executor of the Southern Tigrai Zonal administration, overseeing governance, public service delivery, security coordination, and development programs across 14 districts.
- Managed inter-department and inter-agency coordination during a period of testing socio-political, and humanitarian challenges.
- Mobilizing the wider public toward developmental aspirations and thereby ensuring inclusive involvement.
Head
Communication Affairs Bureau of Tigrai Regional State, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
02.2018 - 10.2019
- Established and led the communication strategy of the regional state, professionalizing media industry and oversaw state-owned media houses.
Head, Research Department
Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)
03.2017 - 02.2019
- Directed party-level research on the areas of party ideology, philosophy, history, political strategy, policy positions, and public communication frameworks.
Head, Public Relations Department
Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)
10.2013 - 03.2017
- Led partywide public relations operations for the ruling party, including media relations, publishing periodical party magazines, internal communication, and political messaging across Ethiopia.
Head (Editor-in-chief), News department
Ethiopian News Agency
04.2010 - 10.2013
- Led editorial operations of the Ethiopian National News Agency, managing editors, reports, news flows, editorial standards across domestic and international desks.
Head, Media Monitoring and Analysis Department
Government Communication Affairs Ministry of Ethiopia
05.2009 - 04.2010
- Directed and led federal level media analysis meant for informing senior government decision making, including the Prime Minister.
Head, Communicators’ Capacity Building Department
Government Communication Affairs Ministry of Ethiopia
04.2009 - 05.2009
- Led professional development programs for the newly established fed communication stuff.
Head
Public Relations Office
04.2007 - 09.2008
- First leadership role, managed district level public communication, community engagement and mobilization, and information services.
- Additional ad hoc and temporary positions available upon request.
Education
PhD Student - International Relations
University of International Business and economics
Beijing, ChinaPhD Student - Social Anthropology
Mekelle University
Mekelle, EthiopiaMaster of Arts - International Relations
Jilin University
China01-2016
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology and Social Anthropology
Addis Ababa University
Ethiopia01-2006
Skills
- Strategic Government Communication
- Regional Administration
- Conflict and Peace Communication
- Policy Research and Analysis
- Media Leadership
- Transformational Leadership
- Horn Africa Politics
- Identity and Ethnic Studies
Websites
- https://aigaforum.com/articles/federalism-new-ethiopia.pdf
- https://www.aigaforum.com/articles/the-nile-river-obsolete-riddle-opportunities.pdf
- https://www.tigraionline.com/media_development_in_ethiopia.pdf
- https://www.aigaforum.com/articles/A-lesson-From-Korean-Economic-Success.pdf
- https://aigaforum.com/articles/trends-and-prospects-korea-dev-part1.pdf
9. Languages
Tigrigna language/Native
Amharic language/Fluent
English/Fluent
6. Publications
- 6.1 Books
- የ መቀሌ ኮንሰንሰስ (Mekelle Consensus)-Amharic version
- ተግሩ ደረጃ-ሰነድ ተግሩ ፕሮቶኮል .... (The Standard Protocol of Tegarou)- Tigrnya version
- 6.2 Selected Commentaries
- A series of developmental and public-affairs commentaries in Ethiopian and international online outlet on the Horn of Africa and Ethiopia, including:
- 1. Microsoft Word - FEDERALISM AND THE NEW REALITY OF ETHIOPIA.doc
- 2. the-nile-river-obsolete-riddle-opportunities.pdf
- 3. media_development_in_ethiopia.pdf
- 4. A-lesson-From-Korean-Economic-Success.pdf
- 5. TRENDS AND PROSPECTS OF KOREAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: FROM AN INTELLECTUAL POINTS OF VIEW
7. Professional Training
- 7.1 International Fellowship
- Kwanhun-KPF Press Fellowship Program in the Republic of Korea (Seoul)- Jointly Organized by Kwanhun Club and Korean Press Foundation for three months.
- Advanced English from English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) of Hyderabad (India)- Three Months.
- 7.2 Leadership, Governance, and Policy
- Transformational Leadership.
- Conflict Management.
- Communication for Development.
- National Security and Foreign Relations policy.
- Democracy and Good Governance Policy.
- Agriculture and Rural Development Policy.
- Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
- Policies and Strategies of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
- 7.3 Media and Public Relations
- Fundamental Principles and Theories of Public Relations.
- Fundamental Instruments of Public Relations.
- Fundamental Principles and Theories of Media.
- Fundamental Techniques of Media and Media Relations.
- Theoretical and Practical Training on Script Writing.
8. Research Interests
- Interstate Relations and Conflict Dynamics in the Horn of Africa
- Ethnicity, Culture, and Politics of identity in multiethnic Raya, Southern Tigrai, Ethiopia
- Strategic communication in fragile and transitional states
- Post-Conflict governance and institutional recovery.
11. Current Address
- +8618811599054 (Beijing, China)
- E-mail redae.h@outlook.com
Reading and writing
Scientific articles
Theoretical books on Politics, Humanities, and Behavioral Sciences
Timeline
Head, Communication Affairs
Interim Regional Administration of Tigrai Regional State
04.2023 - 05.2025
Head
Communication Bureau of Tigrai Regional State
06.2022 - 04.2023
Administrator
Southern Tigrai Zone (Prefecture), Tigrai, Ethiopia
10.2019 - 06.2022
Head
Communication Affairs Bureau of Tigrai Regional State, Ethiopia
02.2018 - 10.2019
Head, Research Department
Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)
03.2017 - 02.2019
Head, Public Relations Department
Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)
10.2013 - 03.2017
Head (Editor-in-chief), News department
Ethiopian News Agency
04.2010 - 10.2013
Head, Media Monitoring and Analysis Department
Government Communication Affairs Ministry of Ethiopia
05.2009 - 04.2010
Head, Communicators’ Capacity Building Department
Government Communication Affairs Ministry of Ethiopia
04.2009 - 05.2009
Head
Public Relations Office
04.2007 - 09.2008
PhD Student - Social Anthropology
Mekelle University
Master of Arts - International Relations
Jilin University
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology and Social Anthropology
Addis Ababa University
PhD Student - International Relations
University of International Business and economics