The Oromia regional State president Alemayehu Atomsa, who has been unwell for the past three years, announced that he is resigning his position, effective February 18.
Alemayehu, who has served as chair of the Oromo People’s Democratic Organisation (OPDO), a part of the ruling coalition, and the presidency of the region since September 6, 2010, had handed a resignation letter to the party, which accepted it ‘with regret and respect’. His first resignation letter to the then prime Minster Meles Zenawi three years ago has been rejected.
It is not clear who will succeed him, but the OPDO appears to favor the vice president, Abdulaziz Mohamed, as acting president.
The departing president has made some good reputation for his strong stance towards tackling corruption which is said to be widespread in the region, though ill-health continued to dog him. Falling ill just months after taking the position of presidency due to a food poisoning, Alemayehu found it hard to effectively undertake his duties. In the past year the regional president had virtually withdrawn from public life because of his failing health.
Born into a Protestant family in Sere village of Eastern Welega, Alemayehu rose from a humble background to become one of the most powerful politicians within the ruling party. He had worked his way up through the ranks of the civil service, starting his career as a teacher and ending up in charge of information bureau of the Oromia region and as a general manager of Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency. He earned a law degree and a master’s degree in public policy from the Ethiopian civil service college. He was elected member of the regions council in 2009 and he became president of the Oromia regional state after a year.
