Haile Mariam Desalegne
Encyclopedia
Haile-Mariam Desalegne is an Ethiopia
n politician. Widely-known to be one of the stooges of Ethiopian dictator Meles Zenawi, he was President of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR) from November 2001 to March 2006 and was promoted as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
in October 2010. He has been performing leadership roles as deputy Chair Man of EPRDF, Chair Man of SEPDM, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. His service term has been as follows: Public Offices: V/President of SNNPR (2000-2002); President of SNNPR(2002 -2005); Member of House of People’s Representatives (2005-now); Social Affairs Special Advisor to the PM, then Public Mobilization & Participation Special Advisor to the Prime Minister (2005 – 2008); Government Chief Whip, with a Ministerial portfolio (2008 – 2010). Party Posts: Member of the Executive Committee EPRDF and SEPDM (2000-now); Chairman of SEPDM (2002-now); Dep. Chairman of EPRDF(since Sept 2010).
Haile Mariam obtained a bachelor degree in civil engineering from the Addis Ababa University in 1988. He subsequently worked as a graduate assistant in the Arba Minch Water Technology Institute (now Arba Minch University
). After two years of working in this capacity, he won a scholarship to Tampere University of Technology in Finland
and obtained a masters degree in sanitation engineering. Upon his return to Ethiopia he served in different academic and administrative capacities, including the dean of the Water Technology Institute, for 13 years.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he became seriously involved in politics as member of the EPRDF (Ethiopia's ruling party) and became the deputy president of SNNPR. He replaced Abate Kisho who was removed from power on corruption charges, but it is widely believed that Abate was demoted for supporting the anti-Meles Zenawi
faction when the TPLF (the core of the EPRDF) split in 2000.
Hailemariam is a controversial figure especially for his manipulative and divisive agenda. People who know him closely accuse him of blindly serving the interests Zenawi, who has been ruling Ethiopia with an iron-fist for the last two decades.
After his tenure as President of the SNNPR, Haile Mariam worked in the Prime Minister's Office as the advisor on Social Affairs and Civic Organizations and Partnerships for two years.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n politician. Widely-known to be one of the stooges of Ethiopian dictator Meles Zenawi, he was President of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR) from November 2001 to March 2006 and was promoted as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ethiopia)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the Ethiopian government ministry which oversees the foreign relations of Ethiopia....
in October 2010. He has been performing leadership roles as deputy Chair Man of EPRDF, Chair Man of SEPDM, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. His service term has been as follows: Public Offices: V/President of SNNPR (2000-2002); President of SNNPR(2002 -2005); Member of House of People’s Representatives (2005-now); Social Affairs Special Advisor to the PM, then Public Mobilization & Participation Special Advisor to the Prime Minister (2005 – 2008); Government Chief Whip, with a Ministerial portfolio (2008 – 2010). Party Posts: Member of the Executive Committee EPRDF and SEPDM (2000-now); Chairman of SEPDM (2002-now); Dep. Chairman of EPRDF(since Sept 2010).
Haile Mariam obtained a bachelor degree in civil engineering from the Addis Ababa University in 1988. He subsequently worked as a graduate assistant in the Arba Minch Water Technology Institute (now Arba Minch University
Arba Minch University
Arba Minch University is a research university located in Arba Minch, Ethiopia, about 500 km south of Addis Ababa. Officially inaugurated in 2004, it is one of the top widely recognized universities in Ethiopia. The university's 2004/05 academic year enrollment is over 6,600, placing it...
). After two years of working in this capacity, he won a scholarship to Tampere University of Technology in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and obtained a masters degree in sanitation engineering. Upon his return to Ethiopia he served in different academic and administrative capacities, including the dean of the Water Technology Institute, for 13 years.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he became seriously involved in politics as member of the EPRDF (Ethiopia's ruling party) and became the deputy president of SNNPR. He replaced Abate Kisho who was removed from power on corruption charges, but it is widely believed that Abate was demoted for supporting the anti-Meles Zenawi
Meles Zenawi
Meles Zenawi Asres is the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Since 1985, he has been chairman of the Tigrayan Peoples' Liberation Front , and is currently head of the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front .Meles was born in Adwa, Tigray in Northern Ethiopia, to an Ethiopian father from...
faction when the TPLF (the core of the EPRDF) split in 2000.
Hailemariam is a controversial figure especially for his manipulative and divisive agenda. People who know him closely accuse him of blindly serving the interests Zenawi, who has been ruling Ethiopia with an iron-fist for the last two decades.
After his tenure as President of the SNNPR, Haile Mariam worked in the Prime Minister's Office as the advisor on Social Affairs and Civic Organizations and Partnerships for two years.
See also
- Welayta peopleWelayta peopleWolayta is the name of an ethnic group and its former kingdom, located in southern Ethiopia. According to the most recent census , they number 1.7 million people or 2.31 percent of the country's population, of whom 289,707 are urban inhabitants...
External links
- "A New Leader in Office", Ethiopia News interview with Haile Mariam Desalegne, published 9 November 2010