Ethiopia’s new Prime Minister is Abiy Ahmed, head of EPRDF’s Oromo bloc
State-affiliated FANA Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) reported late Tuesday that the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) had elected Abiy as its chairperson. His rise to become Prime Minister – head of government – is premised on approval by
State-affiliated FANA Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) reported late Tuesday that the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) had elected Abiy as its chairperson.
His rise to become Prime Minister – head of government – is premised on approval by the Front’s Council and subsequent approval by the parliament. Political watchers hold that that process is a mere formality.
Reports indicate that current deputy Prime Minister, Demeke Mekonnen will maintain his post. Abiy is leader of the Oromo bloc of the EPRDF – the Oromo Peoples Democratic Organization (OPDO). He is also the first Premier from the Oromia region – Ethiopia’s largest and most populous regional state.
The Addis Standard news portal reports that he garnered 108 votes out of a possible 180 to emerge the winner. Abiy takes over from Hailemariam Desalegn who resigned his post in mid-February, according to him to allow for political reforms promised by the EPRDF in early January 2018.
He assumes leadership of the East African security and economic giant in a time of heated political crisis emanating from his state, Oromia. Anti-government protests in Oromia and northern Amhara region have riled the country since 2015 till early this year.
It has since led to two state of emergencies over a two-year period. The first was between October 2016 to August 2017 with the latest round declared in February barely 24-hours after the resignation of his predecessor.
Source: AfricanNews
Subscribe ASSENNA YouTube to get Radio Assenna shows on time:
Forgive me March 28, 2018
Congratulations to Oromo People of achieving this great success. No one think that Oromo will be a leader of Ethiopia but if you work hard and show you ability it does work.
Our next Eritrea leader should come from high land Tigrinya speaker (Jeberty) as I believe that they can unit the countries as they are close to the Christian by geographical and culture and they are close to the low land by their religion and they are very smart and trustworthy and business people.
meretse March 28, 2018
Brother K.Tewolde,
Your last sentence says it all.
In reality Yegermena’llo
Acolom March 28, 2018
“Congratulation” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, head of EPRDF’s Oromo.
NOW THAT IS WHAT I CALL DEMOCRACY.
May God give the Knowledge and Wisdom to rule his people with love, purity, unselfishness and justice.
I also wish this will reflect to my home country Eritrea!
Happy Easter Everyone and God bless!
Acolom
Forgive me March 28, 2018
The new prime minister is not a Muslim , he change his religion to Christianity (Pentecost) but he kept his Islamic name.
Socrates March 28, 2018
Why all the excitement and wishful comments?
EPRDF Council only elects Dr.Abiy Ahmed as its Chairperson.
Then may be he will be the next PM – Prime Minister of EPRDF and Ethiopia.
Usually the Chairperson of EPRDF becomes the prime minister of the country.
Furthermore, Dr.Abiy Ahmed is not a Muslim man anymore as his first name justifies.
My only best wishes for Ethiopia under any leader would be for democracy and fast growing economy to continue.
Danilo March 28, 2018
ABIY AHMED as president or prime minister don’t ease the current situation in Ethiopia but gives some sort of credit to TPLF to use the magic card as was used before. I see nothing new on ethiopian politics. Hailemariam dessalegn the X prime minister too suppose to be fit for that post but couldn’t had power at all. my question is NOW! would OROMOS will be satisfied? Let’s see and wait. how ever, we see the good lesson for DIA and his supporters, free of charge if they use it now but not later.
Sahi March 28, 2018
Abiy Ahmed is not Muslim, he is protestant. I hope the Oromos will stop protesting now. Ethiopia is on right track with EPRDF on it’s helm unlike Eritrea.
Bajet March 28, 2018
Eritrea will never have a terrorist jihadist moslems as they are the most untrustworthy criminal people on earth.
Moslems country and blind backward commitment for life is only to their wicked dinosaurs Islam bullshit.
Bajet March 28, 2018
Eritrea will never have moslem terrorist jihadists as future PM – prime ministers or leaders of our country. Untrustworthy wicked moslems should always be under your foot just like wicked snakes.
Mefqerie Yesus March 28, 2018
I watched this man’s speeches and lectures on you tube about 2 months ago. I found him to be supremely intelligent and I sensed a level of intellectual honesty. The values he wants to communicate you his compatriots seem to noble. God bless him and his leadership.
If this man is a good leader, as I hope he will be, expect nothing else other than ETHIOPIAN nationalism – not ethnic!
Additionally, I would like to say something controversial here:
With all its shortcomings, one of which being the idea of autonomous administration along ethnic lines – which leads to narrow ethno-nationalism…, the EPRSF deserve credit for producing such intelligent politicians such this man and others. Besides the EPRDF seems to have produced a demanding society through its educational and economic policy and investment. If the Ethiopians would insist on the rule of law and on equality/equity … Ethiopia would be even more peaceful and greater. We wish you good our Ethiopian brother.
We Eritreans have a lot of catching up to do, but I am sure we will make it.
amanuel March 29, 2018
When?
Keshi Mars March 28, 2018
Hello Assenna,
Dr. Abiy’s election was expected long time.
Congratulations to him and the Ethiopian people.
Ethiopia now proved that it is capable of transforming itself to a fully representative government. This is the beginning though. There are some elements within the coalition parties that seem unwilling to give power and are seen to delay the process, by creating unnecessary state of emergency. But they came around to play along and smoothen the replacement. We have to see them as progressive. So, they should be praised.
If we take 1998 the base year to compare Eritrea and Ethiopia, year after year when Eritrea digs deeper its burial by mistrust and malpractice in governing, Ethiopia on the other hand is moving forward to the higher levels by creating awareness and trust as a basis of its principles.