Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia
Born on July 19, 1965. An Ethiopian politician, he served as Prime Minister of Ethiopia from August 2012 to April 2018. He has a civil engineering background and obtained master's degrees in Finland and the United States. From 2001 to 2006, he served as President (Governor) of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region. In 2010, he became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. From 2013 to 2014, he served as Chairperson of the African Union.
During his tenure, Ethiopia completed major infrastructure projects, including the Addis Ababa Light Rail and the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway. He placed great importance on developing relations with China, visited China multiple times, attended the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation, and in 2015 came to China to attend events marking the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. He resigned as Prime Minister in 2018. After leaving office, he has remained active internationally and serves in roles such as Chair of the Board of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).