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Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Demeke Mekonnen, who also held the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs since November 2020, is stepping down from both roles, according to information shared by Ethiopia News Agency.
Demeke, the third vice president of the ruling Prosperity Party representing the Amhara faction, has been relieved of his duties, effective today. Temesgen Tiruneh, the Director General of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), will be assuming his responsibilities.
This development was disclosed during the ongoing meeting of the Prosperity Party Central Committee members.
While Demeke had been Deputy Prime Minister since 2012, his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs occurred during a significant reshuffle by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in the aftermath of the conflict in the Tigray region in November 2020. In this reshuffle, Demeke replaced Gedu Andargachew as Foreign Minister but retained his position as Deputy Prime Minister.
Demeke Mekonnen’s federal-level career commenced in 2008 when he became the Minister of Education during the tenure of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. Before this appointment, he served as the Commissioner of the Ethics & Anti-Corruption Commission in the Amhara Region and held leadership roles in the region’s Administrative & Security Affairs Bureau. Between 2005 and 2008, he served as the Vice President and Head of the Capacity Building Bureau of the Region.
His significant advancement within the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) occurred when he became the Deputy Chairman of the party and subsequently the Deputy Prime Minister during Hailemariam Desalegn’s premiership following Meles Zenawi’s death.
In 2015, Demeke gained international prominence for his role in coordinating a humanitarian response to the food crisis affecting 8.2 million Ethiopians due to failed rains and El Niño. His effective coordination efforts were acknowledged for mitigating the crisis’s impact.
Demeke played a pivotal role in Amhara regional state politics, serving as Chairman of the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM) from September 2010, replacing Addisu Legese. He continued as Chairman when ANDM transformed into the Amhara Democratic Party (ADP) and held the position of Deputy Chairman of the EPRDF until both entities dissolved in December 2019, leading to the formation of the Prosperity Party.
During the Prosperity Party’s first convention in March 2022, Demeke Mekonnen was elected as the Second Vice President of the party, following Abiy Ahmed and Adem Farah, the President and Vice President, respectively.
Your Excellency Obbo Demeke Mekonen,
I personally thank you for your extended service to that gem of the colored called Ethiopia. When many of us by choice or unfortunate circumstances chose or ended up to leave our country of birth, you and many of your colleagues opted to stay and contribute the best you can possibly can for the good of the people. I commend you for that and May Allah continue to grace His Blessings upon you and your family. Insha’Allah!!!
I hear that he is going back to his teaching profession and if not I don’t think he will have any problem finding a much better paying jobs with overseas groups like think tanks of all sorts and he will be good at it.