Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed takes oath, enters office

(Compiled from ENA)

The House of People’s Representative (HPR) has appointed 42 years old Abiy Ahmed (PhD) as the next Prime Minster of Ethiopia on Monday. It was recalled that the ruling party Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Front (EPRDF) has elected Abiya as reviewed the detailed reports of its Executive Committee of the Front, performances of each national party towards the implementation of the in-depth renewal program since March 20, 2018. Abiy has elected as the chairman of the ruling party following the resignation of Chairperson Hailemariam Dessalegn.

On his previous carrier Abiy has served as head of OPDO Secretariat and Oromia Housing and Urban Development Office with the title of Deputy President of the Oromia Region.
He has also served as Director-General of Science and Technology Information Center (STIC) and Minister of Science and Technology (MoST) after he became executive member of OPDO in 2015. He has also served in the Ethiopian armed forces in the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel.

Accordingly, he joined the struggle during early 1991, just a few months before the downfall of the military regime, at the age of 15. He also was sent to Rwanda, as a member of the UN peacekeeping force mission from 1993 to 1996. He was appointed as the Minister of Science and Technology as Hailemariam Deesalegn presented him to the House of people’s Representative in 2015.

Photo - New PM Abiy Ahmed and outgoing PM Hailemariam Desalegn
Photo – New PM Abiy Ahmed and outgoing PM Hailemariam Desalegn

In his remark to the parliament today, Abiy Ahmed underlined the need to seek peace within and outside the country. “We are fully committed to reconcile with our Eritrean brothers and sisters” Abiy said. To make this real, the Premier urged the Eritrean government to do its part by starting a dialogue that would help to re-establish peaceful relationship. “I would like to extend an invitation to the Eritrean government to start dialogue and rapport” he said.

Noting that the policy that Ethiopia pursues in the region and outside is based on peace and mutual benefit, Abiy said it will continue to strengthen it so as to stand with neighboring countries during challenges and successes. “For the sake of the two nations that are connected not only by interest but also by blood we are ready to work on building a peaceful diplomatic relation with Eretria ”, he said.
Noting that the Horn of Africa is a “complex” region, Abiy urged the need to work with neighboring countries for peace and cooperation.

Abiy highlighted the need for peace in order to overcome challenges that the complexity in the region poses and utilize opportunities for better cooperation. “On one hand, that complexity poses challenges as the region has many actors with diverse interests. On the other hand, this same complexity presents us with huge opportunities for cooperation since the area is home to people that are connected by blood, culture, and language”.

He underlined the need to seek peace within and outside the country critical in the journey towards prosperity. Peace is not the absence of conflict; rather it is the active pursuit of finding common grounds to differences. We must seek peace with our borders and outside.”

Photo - New PM Abiy Ahmed enters the Office of Prime Minister
Photo – New PM Abiy Ahmed enters the Office of Prime Minister

Abiy Ahmed has expressed strong commitment to ensure inclusive participation and benefit of women and the youth from the development of the country and pledged to deeply strengthen engagement with women and youth. He said that his government would work hard to create young entrepreneurs in every aspect apart from creation of job opportunities.

The Premier noted that the government would create enabling situation to build fair social and economic system through stamping out maladministration and misperception that impediment the intended targets, he pointed out. “We understand that without the active participation and benefit of the youth, nation building cannot be achieved. Ethiopia is a nation that offers hope to the youth, and in this regard I vowed to do all my best for the fulfillment,” he affirmed.

Appreciating women’s role in nation building and shaping generation, despite various challenges they are facing, Abiy has called on women to continue being instrumental in developing the country.
He said “We believe that the government is working to ensure women to play a leading role in the developmental transformation of our country.”

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Source: Compiled from ENA.

Content gathered and compiled from online and offline media by Hornaffairs staff based on relevance and interest to the Horn of Africa.

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