Prime Minister Meles Zenawi formed a government, last week. So far 25 members of the new Cabinet that is 20 ministers and 5 officials with a ministerial portfolio are appointed.
Despite the public eagerness to learn the bios of the cabinet members, there is very little information available. Not even the brief description by Prime Minister about the Ministers is not available in English to date.
Thus, I took the initiative to compile and post the profile of each cabinet member. Though there are still missing info about a few of ministers, I believe it is better to post it and update it later, rather than hold it. I intend to post their photos and fill the blank spaces as soon as possible.
1. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Constituency: Wolayta Boloso Sore
Party: SEPDM
Nation: Wolayta
Education: BSc in Civil Engineering from AAU; MSc in Water and Environmental Engineering in Finland Tampere University(1992); served as Instructor, then as a Dean of Arba Minch Water Technology Institute (now Arba Minch University)
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)
2. Tefera Deribew Yimam
Minister of Agriculture
Constituency: Dembia, Northern Gondar, Amhara Region.
Party: ANDM
Nation: Amhara
Education:
Public Posts: Zone Agriculture Dept Head(2005-2008); Head of Bureau of Rural and Agricultural Development of Amhara National Regional Government (2008-2010); Member of House of People’s Representatives (2010-now).
Party Posts: Member of the Executive Committee EPRDF and ANDM.
3. Mekonen Manyazewal
Minister of Industry
Constituency: None
Party: None
Nation: Amhara
Education: Economist
Public Posts: V/Minister of Plan & Economic Ministry, then V/Minister Economy & Development Ministry (1992-2002); State Minister of Finance and Economic Development Ministry(2003-2010).
Party Posts: None(not a political party member)
4. Soufian Ahmed Beker
Minister of Finance & Economic Development
Constituency: Harewacha, Eastern Hararghe, Oromia.
Party: OPDO
Nation: Oromo
Education: Economist
Public Posts: Minister of Finance (1993?-2002); Minister of Finance & Economic Development (2002-2010); Currently Member of House of People’s Representatives.
Party Posts: Member of the Executive Committee EPRDF and OPDO.
5. Siraj Fegesa Sherefa
Minister of Defense
Constituency: Sanfaro, Silte, SNNPR.
Party: SEPDM
Nation: Silte
Education:
Public Posts: Zone Administrator, then SNNPR Cabinet member (2000-2005); Minister of Federal Affairs(2005-2008); Minister of Defence(2008-2010); Currently Member of House of People’s Representatives .
Party Posts: Leader of Silte People Democratic Organization(later merged with SEPDM(1999 -2003); Member of the Executive Committee SPDM(2003-now); Member of EPRDF Council(2003?-now).
6. Mekuria Haile Hailemariam
Minister of Urban Development and Construction
Constituency: Azza, Gurage.
Party: SEPDM
Nation: Gurage
Education: BA in Business Management from AAU; MA in International Business Management from Ireland; currently studying MBA at Open University.
Public Posts: Head of SNNPR Trade, Industry & Urban development Bureau and SNNPR Cabinet member of SNNPR( ); City Manager of Addis Ababa Addis Ababa Administration(2007-2010); Currently Member of House of People’s Representatives.
Party Posts: Member of Executive Committees of EPRDF and SEPDM
7. Dr Shiferaw Tekelemariam Menbecho
Minister of Federal Affairs
Constituency: Soro, Hadya, SNNPR.
Party: SEPDM
Nation: Hadya
Education:
Public Posts: Head of SNNPR Health Bureau and SNNPR Cabinet member( ? – 2005); State Minister of Health (2005-2008); Minister of Federal affairs (2008- 2010); Currently member of House of People’s Representatives .
Party Posts: Member of the Executive Committee EPRDF and SEPDM.
8. Tewodros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD
Minister of Health
Constituency: Bizet, Eastern Zone, Tigray.
Party: TPLF
Nation: Tigray
Education: BSc in Biology from Asmara University(1986); MSc in immunology of infectious diseases from the University of London(1992); PhD in Community Health from the University of Nottingham, UK( 2000); published several articles in the field of malaria prevention.
Public Posts: Head of Tigray Health Bureau and Tigray Region Cabinet member (? – 2003); State Minister of Health(2003 – 2005); Minister of Health(2005-now).
Other Posts: Co-Chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health (PMNCH) (2005 – 2009); Board Chair of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (2007 – 2009); Chair of the Board of Directors of Addis Ababa University (2004-now); Board Member of the GAVI Alliance (2007-now); Chair of the UNAIDS Programme Coordination Board (PCB) (2009-now); Board Member of the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) (2007-now); Board Chair of the Global Fund (2009-now).
Party Posts: Member of the Executive member of TPLF & EPRDF
9. Demeke Mekonnen Hasen
Minister of Minister of Education
Constituency: Chagni, Awi, Amhara Region.
Party: ANDM
Nation: Amhara
Education:
Public Posts: Commissioner of Amhara Region Ethics & Anti-Corruption Commission( ); Head of Amhara Region Administrative & Security Affairs Bureau and Amhara Region Cabinet member(? – 2005); Vice President and Head of Capacity Building Bureau of Amhara Region (2005 – 2008); Minister of Education (2008 – 2010); Member of House of People’s Representatives (2010-now).
Party Posts: Member of the Executive Committee of EPRDF and ANDM
10. Abdurrahman Sheik Mohammed
Minister of Trade
Constituency: None
Party: SPDP
Nation: Somali
Education:
Public Posts: Head of Somali Region Disaster Prevention & Preparedness Bureau( ); Head of Somali Region Education Bureau and Somali Region Cabinet member( ? – 2010).
Party Posts: Member of the Executive Committee of SPDP
11. Diriba Kuma Hey
Minister of Transport
Constituency: Wuchalena jida, Northern Shewa, Oromia.
Party: OPDO
Nation: Oromo
Education:
Public Posts: Zone Administrator ( ); Head of Oromia Region Rural and Agricultural Development Bureau(2005-2008); Minister Transport and Communication(2008-2010); Currently Member of Promia Regional Council.
Party Posts: Member of Executive Committees of EPRDF and OPDO.
12. Alemayehu Tegenu
Minister of Water and Energy
Constituency: None
Party: OPDO
Nation: Oromo
Education:
Public Posts: Oromia Mines & Energy Bureau Head ( ); Minister of Mines & Energy(2006 -2008).
Party Posts: Member of EPRDF Council and OPDO Council.
13. Berhane Hailu Dagne
Minister of Justice
Constituency: Debre-berhane, Northern Shewa, Amhara Region.
Party: ANDM
Nation: Amhara
Education:
Public Posts: Zone Administrator( ); Head of Amhara Region Health Bureau and Amhara Region Cabinet member( ); Head of Ethiopia Radio and Television Agency(? – 2005); Minister of Information(2005-2008); Minister of Justice(2008-2010); Member of House of People’s Representatives (2010 – now).
Party Posts: Member of the Executive Committee of EPRDF and ANDM
14. Desse Dalke
Minister of Science and Technology
Constituency: None
Party: SEPDM
Nation: Sidama
Education:
Public Posts: Head of Education Department, then Head Capacity Building Department of Sidama Zone( ); Chief Administrator of Sidama Zone(SNNPR) (? – 2010).
Party Posts: Member of the Executive Committee of EPRDF and SEPDM.
15. Junedin Sado Chiri
Minister of Civil Service
Constituency: Dera, Arsi, Oromia.
Party: OPDO
Nation: Oromo
Education: BSc in Geology; MSc in related field
Public Posts: Oromia Cabinet member(2000-2002); Oromia President (2002-2006); 2006-2008 Min Transport and Committee; 2008-2010 Min of Science & Technology
Party Posts: Member of the Executive Committee of EPRDF and OPDO(? – 2010).
16. Debretsion Gebremikael
Minister of Communication and Information Technology
Constituency: None
Party: TPLF
Nation: Tigray
Education:
Public Posts: Interior Ministry dept posts (TGE)
Zone Administrator; Tigray Region Cabinet member( ); Director of Information and Communication Technology Development Agency(ICTDA) of the Federal Government( ? – 2010 ).
Party Posts: Veteran member of TPLF; Member of the Executive Committee of EPRDF and TPLF.
17. Sinknesh Ejigu Anki
Minister of Mines
Constituency: Dendi, Western Shewa, Oromia.
Party: OPDO
Nation: Oromo
Education: Geology
Public Posts: Department Head of Ethiopian Geological Survey Institute; V/Minister of Mines & Energy(200-2010); Currently Member of House of People’s Representatives.
Party Posts: OPDO Member
18. Abdulfetah Abdulahi Hassan
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
Constituency: Kebribeyah, Jijiga, Somali region.
Party: SPDP
Nation: Somali
Education:
Public Posts: Director of Management Institute of Somali Region( ); Head of Education Bureau( ); Head of Capacity Building Bureau and Somali Region Cabinet Member(2005-2010), Currently member of House of People’s Representatives .
Party Posts: Chairperson of SPDP
19. Amin Abdulkadir
Minister of Culture and Tourism
Constituency: None.
Party: ANDP
Nation: Afar
Education:
Public Posts: Served at various professional posts in Afar National regional government; Department Head of Afar Pastoralist, Agriculture, & Rural Development Bureau( ).
Party Posts:
20. Zenebu Tadesse W/Tsadik
Minister of Women, Youth, and Children’s Affairs
Constituency: Tis abay, Western Gojam, Amhara region.
Party: ANDM
Nation: Amhara
Education:
Public Posts: Served in Amhara regional state at different professional capacity; Head of Economy Affairs of Amhara Regional Council( ); Head of Amhara Region Women Affairs Bureau( ); Head of Amhara Region Labour and social Affairs Bureau( ); State minister of Labour and social Affairs Ministry(? – 2010); Currently Member of House of People’s Representatives.
Party Posts: Member of ANDM Council and EPRDF Council.
21. Redwan Hussein
Public Mobilization & Participation Advisor of the Prime Minister, with a Ministerial Portfolio
Constituency: None
Party: SEPDM
Nation: Silte
Education: BSc in Biology from Addis Ababa University.
Public Posts: Member of House of Peoples’ Representatives (2010-still); Head of Public Mobilization of SNNPR, then Head of SNNPR Education Bureau and SNNPR Cabinet member(2005-2008); Member of SNNPR Council(2005-2010); Currently member of House of People’s Representatives.
Party Posts: Head of the Addis Ababa EPRDF office(2008-2010); Member of the Executive Committee of EPRDF and SEPDM(2008-still).
22. Muktar Kedir A/Bulgu
Head of the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Affairs, with a ministerial portfolio
Constituency: Jima city, Oromia.
Party: OPDO
Nation: Oromo
Education:
Public Posts: Currently Member of Oromo Regional Council.
Party Posts: Head of the Office of EPRDF Council(2008-2010); Dep. Chair of OPDO(since 2010)
23. Aster Mamo
Government Chief Whip with a Ministerial portfolio
Constituency: None
Party: OPDO
Nation: Oromo
Education:
Public Posts: Min. of Youth & Sports (2005-2010)
Party Posts: Member of OPDO Council(2006-2008); Member of the Executive Committee of EPRDF and OPDO(2008-2010).
24. Melaku Fanta
Director General of the Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority with a ministerial portfolio
Constituency: Addis Ababa (Member of Addis Ababa City Administration Council)
Party: ANDM
Nation: Amhara
Education: BSc in Economics MBA; Diploma in Public Management and Urban Governance; Currently studying MA in Customs and Revenue.
Public Posts: Served in the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, then in the Regional Affairs Department of the PM Office at different levels( ); Minister of Revenue(2005-2008); Head of Revenues and Customs Authority with a Ministerial portfolio(2008-2010); Member of Addis Ababa Council(2008 – now).
*The Ministry of Revenue had been substituted, as 2008, by Revenues and Customs Authority
Party Posts: Member of EPRDF Council and ANDM Council.
25. Bereket Simon
Head of Government Communications Office (Minister)
Constituency: (didn’t run in this election)
Party: ANDM
Nation: Amhara
Education: MBA
Public Posts: Member of House of Peoples’ Representatives (2005-2010); Minister of Culture and Information (2002-2005); Minister of Information (2005-2008); Head of Government Communications Office with a Ministerial portfolio (2008-2010).
*The Ministry of Information had been substituted, as of 2008, by Government Communications Office, which is accounted by the Prime Minister Office.
Party Posts: Founding member of ANDM; Member of the Executive Committee of EPRDF and ANDM.
ACRONYMS
EPRDF – Ethiopian peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Party
TPLF – Tigray Peoples’ Liberation Front
ANDM – Amhara Nation Democratic Movement
OPDO – Oromo Peoples’ Democratic Organization
SPEDM – Southern Ethiopian Peoples’ Democratic movement
ANDP – Afar National Democratic Party
SPDP – Somali people’s Democratic Party
SNNPR – Southern Nation, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region
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